County sees decrease in number of riders

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority saw a decrease of more than 3 percent in its ridership last fiscal year compared to the previous 12-month period.
The Three Rivers-based agency closed the books on its 2015-16 fiscal year Sept. 30. It provided 94,435 rides during its 12-month fiscal year. That figure was down from 97,502 rides provided in the 2014-15 fiscal year.
CTA Director Steve Yorks said the 3.2 percent decrease is attributable to a number of factors, including a healthy economy and relatively lower gas prices.
The agency in its 2012-13 fiscal year hit an all-time high of nearly 98,000 rides. Yorks conceded it’s difficult to sustain high numbers from one year to the next when they reach unprecedented levels.
The CTA, which operates on a $1.8 million annual budget, has a 29-vehicle fleet.