The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority says ridership was up 4 percent to 334 million passengers in the fiscal year that ended June 30. That's the highest since it had 345 million riders in 1989.
The transit authority says the increase is a result of a growing downtown population and more use by young adults, as well as high gas prices.
Spokesman Richard Maloney says 12 million of the 13 million additional trips last year came on city buses, subways and trolleys. The remaining trips came on SEPTA's Regional Rail lines serving part of the city and suburbs.
