The Regional Transit System has released its record-breaking ridership report for 2010-2011, with 10,021,824 passengers transported from October 2010 to September 2011.
Chip Skinner, the RTS Marketing and Communications supervisor, said he sees a number of factors behind the increase.
"In the last few years, we've been seeing, on average, about a 3 percent growth," he said. "A lot of different studies have shown that it costs between $8,000 and $10,000 to have a vehicle for one year. With the bus system, you're only paying approximately $420 a year."
The RTS employee-bus-pass program is another boost.
Employers buy employee bus passes that provide workers with unlimited access to the bus system.
An additional cause is Santa Fe College's new transportation fee.
SFC students are now able to receive free transport on a bus after showing a student ID.
"They have that prepaid unlimited access now because it's associated with each credit hour, just like UF's transportation fee," Skinner said. "That increased our ridership out to that particular area."
As ridership grows, full buses become an issue for students, especially in the early morning blocks.
"If [students] are encountering full buses now, they may want to explore other options later in the day," Skinner said. "We are in the people-moving business, and we don't want to leave anyone on the road, if possible."
Skinner doesn't see the growth stopping anytime soon.
RTS is anticipating 10.3 million riders next year.
