new photo's and stats by Director Turner

AppalCART authorities reported nearly a six percent increase in ridership from 2008 to 2009, setting a record for annual ridership.

AppalCART’s director, Christopher Turner, said over1.2 million passenger trips in over 661,000 miles of service were logged in 2009.

Turner said, “The 5.9 percent increase amounted to an additional 67,466 recorded trips over the total for 2008.” Turner added that he believes the AppalCart saw an increase in ridership because the service purchased newer buses, a second bus was added on the Orange Route, and the continuation of fare free program on the AppalCART’s bus routs. The service’s ridership may also have increased because AppalCART’s hours of operation also increased by two percent over the past year.