New numbers show nearly 30 million riders hopped on Metro Transit buses during the second quarter of 2011. Preliminary daily ridership in June increased 5.8 percent over June 2010. Overall, the second quarter saw a 4 percent jump in boardings compared to the same period last year.

“These ridership numbers continue to point to the role Metro is playing in our economic recovery,” Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond said. “This increase also tells us a growing number of commuters want relief from high gas prices and are now using Metro as their preferred travel choice.”

The second quarter ridership increase continues a trend that began several months ago. During the first half of 2011, 1.4 million more bus trips were made compared to the same period last year. The increase shows Metro’s ridership continues to rebound along with employment as the economy recovers from the Great Recession.

Metro’s new RapidRide A Line also continues to be hugely popular with riders. Spring ridership on the 11-mile bus rapid transit line serving Pacific Highway South/International Boulevard in South King County has grown by 30 percent compared to the route it replaced.

These increases continue to show strong linkages between ridership, economic growth and the cost of gasoline.

Meanwhile, in its July monthly Transit Savings Report, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) now ranks Seattle as the fourth best city for saving money by using transit.

The monthly APTA report examines how an individual in a two-person household can save money by taking public transportation and living with one less car.

When compared to the nation’s top 20 cities with the highest transit ridership, Seattle area residents save $995 per month or $11,936 per year by using public transportation.

The cities are ranked in order of their transit savings based on the purchase of a monthly public transit pass and factoring in gas prices for July 14, 2011 and the monthly unreserved parking rate.

According to a recently released survey by Colliers International, Seattle’s average monthly parking rate is the sixth highest in the nation.

To calculate your individual savings with or without car ownership, go to www.publictransportation.org.