Despite the occasional train breakdown, Hub riders have been flocking to the T in record numbers.
MBTA interim General Manager Jon Davis announced yesterday that October’s weekday ridership soared past last year’s total.
Combined, September and October also marked the T’s highest ridership ever recorded, he said.
According to T officials, heavy ridership growth on the Red, Orange and Blue lines last month beat out September’s records.
“It’s wonderful. It’s great news. At first I thought it was an anomaly, but clearly the trend is here to stay,” said Brian Kane, budget and policy analyst for the MBTA Advisory Board.
Kane said a mix of mobile apps, economic recovery in the Boston area and a distaste for traffic congestion may have helped spike ridership.
“If the T was world class like we all want it to be, and if you could guarantee reliability, then you would see it really peak,” he said.
Riders yesterday at South Station agreed with Kane’s assessment.
“I don’t want to pay for parking and the price to ride is great,” said Daren Hammer, 38.
Hammer said he would not be mad about a potential fare hike as long as “it wasn’t outrageous.”
Catherine Heller said while the T can be unreliable, it’s her livelihood for getting around.
“Even if I had a car, I’d still take the T,” she said.
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