CHESTERTON -- The South Shore ranks among the fastest-growing commuter rail lines in the United States in ridership, a new report shows.
The American Public Transportation Association released figures March 12 comparing all 18 commuter rail transit agencies located throughout the United States.
Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District spokesman John Parsons shared the figures at Friday's monthly board meeting.
The breakdown compared the number of passenger trips for the fourth quarter of 2005 to the fourth quarter of 2006. The South Shore, which carries a weekday average of 14,000 trips, increased its number of rides by 10.67 percent. The only other agencies that increased rides by a higher rate were South Florida RTA in Miami, at 21.26 percent increase, and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, in Harrisburg, with an 18.85 percent increase.
Parsons said the South Shore's increase was impressive given that Florida's commuter line had undergone construction the previous year and its numbers merely reflected a return of riders after the construction was complete.
"Pennsylvania's commuter line is a small, new-start project that is just starting to grow its market," Parsons said.
Parsons added that South Shore ridership has increased by about 500 rides a day since construction began on the Borman Expressway several weeks ago.
Ridership over the last 12 months increased 9.6 percent, from 3,860,439 in 2005-06 to 4,231,018 between March through February.
In related business, the board approved a resolution to award a bond issue to J.P. Morgan Chase Bank for up to $33 million over 17 years at a rate of 4.028 percent interest for the purchase of 14 new rail cars.
The cars should be constructed and arrive within 18 to 24 months, Parsons said.