August FY 1998 fixed route ridership was up more than 390,000 boardings over last year's record ridership achieved in August 1997. August 1998 fixed route ridership was up 4.7 percent over last year's record August ridership. It is equally important to both achieve new ridership and to retain new riders attracted to the transit system as a result of a promotion. Trends in average number of passenger trips per weekday, indicate that last year's Clean Air Month half-fares provided a substantial boost to fixed route ridership, while ensuing months also showed significant growth, reaching double digit or near double digit growth in most months. We were able to encourage a significant number of people to get out of their cars and get on a bus during a month when we historically have the greatest number of hazardous ozone exceedance days.
Vehicles are a major contributor to ground-level ozone pollution in the Houston area.
Consequently, when individuals get on a bus, they are making a choice that will help keep the air clean. A bus with 44 passengers emits far less pollution than 44 automobiles. Every commuter who takes a bus instead of driving a passenger car reduces hydrocarbon emissions for that trip by nearly 90 percent and carbon monoxide by 75 percent. It is going to take everyone working together throughout the eight-county nonattainment area for us to make significant reductions and come into compliance with EPA standards. The region has until 2007 to reach federal standards or face restrictions on industrial growth.