CA Another way to rail about gasoline prices

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Another way to rail about gasoline prices TRANSPORTATION: Metrolink ridership is up in O.C.

March 22, 2000

By JEFF COLLINS The Orange County Register

Tammy Anderson drove to work the past year, logging 100 miles a day commuting from Santa Ana to Hollywood.

But last week, she ditched her car at the Santa Ana Depot and hopped the Metrolink.

"Traffic is horrible, and gas prices are expensive," Anderson, 40, said Tuesday as she got off the 608 train at 6:31 p.m. "It cost me almost $30 to fill my tank."

Anderson is one of about 300 commuters to shed their cars this month and climb aboard a Metrolink train through Orange County, an agency spokesman said Tuesday.

Officials aren't sure why Metrolink ridership increased 7.3 percent in Orange County and 13 percent system-wide.

But spokesman Peter Hidalgo speculated that rising gasoline prices and rainy weather could be factors.

Ridership on the Orange County Line increased from an average of 5,417 a day last March to 5,738 a day this month, Hidalgo said.

David Ryan, 48, of Encinitas said he's noticed more passengers boarding the Oceanside trains each morning as he starts his commute to Santa Ana.

"I think it's the increase in the price of gas," Ryan said.

Chris Miller of the Orange County Counsel's Office said he's also driving less and riding more since gas went up.

"I'm paying probably on average 40 cents to 50 cents more a gallon than I was six to eight months ago," Miller said

http://www.ocregister.com/community/metro022w5.shtml

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), March 22, 2000


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