AppalCART rolls up another record

AppalCART, the local public transportation authority, reported a systemwide ridership of 125,083 passenger trips for November 2008, which set a record for the month of November.

The previous record of 117,594 had been set in November 2007. The authority’s ridership increased 6 percent even though miles of service were down by 5 percent and hours of service by 9 percent as AppalCART had one less bus route than the year before.

The bus service in the Boone area accounted for 122,231 trips in 37,388 miles of service compared to 115,424 trips in 39,388 miles for November 2007. AppalCART experienced a decline in ridership on its paratransit routes, which provide door-to-door transportation for people with disabilities that prevent them from riding the bus service. Paratransit trips declined 27 percent from 844 in November 2007 to 617 in November 2008.

For more information on AppalCART and its route schedules, visit its Web site at www.appalcart.com or call the dispatch office at 264-C-A-R-T (2278).