Valley Metro ridership jumps as gas prices stay high
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The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council says more than 648,000 people rode Valley Metro buses this month as gas prices remain high.
Officials say the increase in ridership started in February, around the time the war with Iran began.
From February to March, ridership jumped by about 128,000.
"Most definitely it is expensive out there; gas is expensive, and we don't know when that is going to die down, but transportation it's $2," Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Executive Director of Council Manuel Cruz said.
La Feria resident Steve Zamora said he recently bought a small truck, but when gas prices started to climb, his wallet took a hit.
"Gas prices are going up way too much; I just disagree with it. A lot of people are struggling, living paycheck to paycheck just like I am," Zamora said.
Now he takes Route 31 every day to work and is saving instead of losing money.
"$2 a day wins over $75 of gas," Zamora said.
The rising gas prices are also costing Valley Metro more to fill up their buses. Cruz said they would typically spend about $70,000 for fuel per month.
"Now we are up around a little over $100,000 to $120,000 a month," Cruz said.
If gas prices continue to stay high, Cruz says they would have to eventually look at routes and do different assessments.
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