There’s been a massive decline in senior bus passengers in Luzerne County, Pa., after allegations in July 2012 that bus drivers were counting “ghost riders” to increase state funding. Drivers manually log senior riders, who must produce a senior transit ID card or Medicare card. Each senior rider means about 30 cents in funds for the authority from the state lottery system.
Senior ridership was counted at 71,754 in June 2012, dropped to 30,535 in January and was 22,101 in April.
The county transportation authority’s executive director said bus drivers were miscounting and double- and triple-counting seniors. The state transportation department is investigating. Meanwhile, future ridership numbers are expected to be accurate because automated counters are being installed on all buses.
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/bflubng
Source: Mass Transit magazine
.
