Research Triangle Park, N.C. – The Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) set a new one month record for ridership in August.

During the month, 80,716 rides were recorded on all TTA regional routes, shuttles and express buses.

“More and more people rode public transportation in August and the continued growth in transit ridership shows how important TTA’s regional transportation service is to thousands of Triangle residents,” said John Tallmadge, director of commuter resources.

For the first six months of the calendar year, TTA’s ridership is up 16 percent, outpacing national transit ridership of 3.2 percent from January-June 2006.

Tallmadge said the Smart Commute Challenge which began in mid-August should continue to build ridership for TTA. “As more and more riders recognize the savings they have on transit, many are using TTA as a way to get to work and school, still mindful of the price they pay for gasoline at the pump.”

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, Hillsborough, RDU International Airport, RTP and Raleigh.  The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the on-line resource for public transportation information in the Triangle.

TTA is the implementation agency for a regional rail transit system connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP.

For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.