Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor (connecting Sacramento, Davis, Richmond, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, and San Jose among others) set a new ridership record in January. Over 130,800 passengers boarded the Capitol Corridor route last month, which is 13,000 more riders than January 2010. The 11% increase made January 2011 the best performance of any January in the history of the service.
Expect a new record next January – the Capitol Corridor will have WiFi on every train by the end of 2011.
The Capital Corridor carried 1.62 million riders in the last 12 months – a 4% increase over the previous year. Why are so many people ditching their cars for Amtrak?
The route’s 96% on-time arrival performance might have something to do with it (especially compared to I-80’s on-time rush hour performance). Or is it the frequency of trains? The comfort of the ride?
The answer might be as simple as savings. Amtrak offers multiple ride and unlimited monthly passes. When you consider the cost of gas and the wear and tear on a car, driving get expensive. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) released a Transit Savings Report in 2008 estimating that transit riders save an average of $9,656 a year. San Francisco residents save even more – $12,738 a year. That doesn’t include the cost of caffeine to stay alert on the freeway or the lost productivity wasted in traffic.
Calculate your own commute to see how much you could save if you used transit more often.
Ready to start a more relaxed commute? Explore 511 Contra Costa’s resources for making the switch to public transit.
Can’t avoid driving? We understand – not everyone commutes along a transit route. Consider looking into carpools or vanpools. Start your own vanpool and we’ll give you $1,000 cash! Guaranteed rides home will make sure you never get stranded at work.
Looking for an even greener way to get around? Use 511CC to plan a scenic bike ride, find a bike buddy, or make biking part of your everyday transportation. Get rolling!
