According to the City of Raleigh’s website, more than 150,000 commuters have caught a ride on the R-Line since its first day of service in February. A recent report provided the following numbers on the fare-free downtown circulator bus line:
A total of 152,634 passengers rode the R-Line from Feb. 13, its first day of service, to Dec. 5, according to a report on the latest ridership totals. The report also found that during this time:
* An average of 519 passengers rode the R-Line daily, including weekends;
* The bus carried an average total of 535 riders each weekday;
* An average of 719 commuters rode the R-Line on Saturdays; and,
* The R-Line’s average passenger count on Sundays was 241.
The total number of riders has declined since September, though a similar decrease is typically seen in the fall and winter months on all CAT bus lines. Even with the seasonal drop in numbers, the CAT system still saw an overall increase in riders of more than 10% in the 2009 fiscal year, with a good portion of the increase likely due to R-Line patronage.
The R-Line consists of two hybrid buses which run through the route every 10-12 minutes, providing downtown riders with quick and easy access to free rides to many local restaurants, shops, and establishments. More information on the R-Line and the CAT system can be found at www.raleighnc.gov/transit.
UPDATE: On Monday, the Indy Weekly blog ran some additional numbers regarding the R-Line. The statistics provided in that article give a better sense of perspective on the overall ridership numbers and budget in the Raleigh area. The number of reported passenger trips on the R-Line since February comprises a total of about 3 percent of the overall rides on the city transit system. Among some of the math the Indy did are the following additional nuggets:
• 5 million: The number of passenger trips taken in 2009 on Capital Area Transit buses, including the R-Line
• $1.13 million: The capital costs of the two 36-seat, hybrid buses
As the Indy reported in June, the federal government picks up 80 percent of the tab. The remaining 20 percent comes out of local coffers.• $80 an hour: The operating costs of each R-Line bus while it’s running. Local funds pay for all the operating costs: labor, maintenance and fuel—the amount of which is reduced because the buses are hybrids.
• $757,680: The total operating costs of both buses running at 112.75 hours each per week, so far in 2009
• $920,040: The total annual operating costs of both buses running at 112.75 hours each per week, for 51 weeks a year. (This accounts for reduced hours on holidays.)
• $825,000: The annual operating budget for the R Line
• $5-$6: At current ridership levels, cost per passenger trip for the R-Line, for 42 weeks in 2009 and annually
Downtown Raleigh Alliance Rolls out R-Line Bus and YouRHere Branding
Your Comment