AppalCART sees ridership increase from 2012

AppalCART, the public transportation authority serving Watauga County, announced 139,163 passenger tips recorded in January 2013, which was an 18 percent increase over the same month last year.

Van routes were down slightly in ridership over January a year ago largely due to more cancelations this year due to a more severe winter than last year.

For the system as a whole, trips were up 18 percent, miles of service were up 13 percent and hours of service were up 15 percent.

The bus routes accounted for 137,100 of the passenger trips, 43,620 of the 62.198 miles and 3,614 of the 4,659 hours of service.

AppalCART added a new Silver Route linking the Watauga campus of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute with Boone and Appalachian State University and a second bus on the Purple route. Together, the two additions increased ridership by about 10,000 passenger trips.

Paratransit trips decreased 8 percent for those whose disabilities prevented them from using the bus service. The accessible van service recorded 914 trips for January 2013, compared to 993 in January 2012.

For more information on AppalCART routes, visit http://www.appalcart.com.