Durango Transit saw a decline in ridership in 2015, partially driven by a the new trolley fares and low gas prices.
The number of people riding the trolley declined 19 percent in 2015 compared with 2014, according to city data.
Trolley ridership saw the steepest declines, down from about 304,000 in 2014 to 197,000 in 2015, or 35 percent.
The decline is consistent with what the city expected after implementing a $1 fare in January 2015, said Amber Blake, transportation and sustainability director.
The city staff suspected the ridership on the trolley was inflated by people riding the once-free trolley up and down Main Avenue for shelter, rather than transportation.
The loop and opportunity bus ridership also declined, but it wasn’t as pronounced from 277,195 to 275,479 or about 1 percent.
“That’s a pretty stable ridership. ... When gas prices go down you typically see a drop,” Blake said.
However, about 80 percent of the city’s ridership is reliant on the service, helping to keep numbers stable.
Regular riders can look forward to six new city buses rolling into town this summer, Blake said.
Existing city buses have about 300,000 miles on them, said Kent Harris, the transit operations manager.
The city received a federal grant to help buy the buses that will cost $560,000. The city will spend $112,000 for the buses, Blake said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
