MTU ridership down 2.5%
LA CROSSE, WI — Fewer people are hopping onto one of La Crosse’s buses.
MTU says it had a 2.5% drop in ridership from the year before, down to 1.2 million riders.
Keith Carlson, MTU’s transit manager, says that’s likely due to a substantial increase in fares.
A cut in state funding forced MTU to raise the price to ride 5-dollars on monthly passes and 25-cents per ride.
“Over the last couple times we raised fares we didn’t see a decrease in ridership but I think this was such a substantial increase that that’s what led to the decrease this time,” says Carlson.
The good news for MTU is the new hybrid buses are exceeding expectations, saving 40% on fuel costs.
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