Centro Ridership Increases 12.2% in Oneida County

Utica, NY - Ridership on Centro bus routes in Utica and Rome is up 12.2% for the first quarter

of 2008 compared to the same time last year. The combined ridership totaled 319,899 for January-February-March of this year - up 34,765 from 2007.

"The increase can be attributed to two factors - improved service and rising gas prices," said Centro of Oneida General Manager Ronald Bucciero. "We implemented significant service improvements in both cities, the most recent occurred last October in Utica. The changes have provided additional transportation opportunities for our community, especially during evening hours.

The improvements included additional service during weekday evenings, increased service to the Commercial Drive corridor and implementation of a timed-transfer system allowing easier access to cross-town service.

The increases come as gas prices are at all-time highs. The average price of a gallon of gasoline in the Utica-Rome area is $3.47/gallon, up from $2.93/gallon a year ago.

"Gas prices are encouraging people to try our service, and we believe many of them are finding our bus service as a convenient and less expensive alternative to driving a car," said Bucciero.

By city, the increases are as follows:

Utica 2007 - 245,466
Utica 2008 - 278,786 up 13.9%

Rome 2007 - 39,688
Rome 2008 - 41,113 Up 3.6%

Centro began operation in Oneida County April 1, 2005 after Oneida County joined the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority.

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