By Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald

4/4/08 - The high cost of gasoline is driving a growing number of commuters to take mass transit, but it’s also taking its toll on the T.

Total MBTA ridership rose from 27,424 in February 2007 to 30,576 this February, an 8 percent increase.

T officials attribute the rise at least partly to the cost of fuel, the same reason the T’s board of directors yesterday had to approve spending an extra $1.9 million.

“The price has gone through the roof,” General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas said. “We’ve run out (of the fuel the T bought).”

In August 2006, the board awarded Sprague Energy of White Plains, N.Y., an $11.4 million contract to supply diesel fuel for T buses for one year.

Last July, the board extended the contract by another year. But since then, the average price of diesel has risen 40 percent, from $2.41 a gallon last July to $3.39 last month.

The $1.9 million the board approved yesterday will pay for the 400,000 gallons of fuel the T’s 600 diesel buses use monthly until the board awards a new contract in May.

Global Montello Group has submitted a bid that is 5 cents cheaper per gallon of ultra low sulfur diesel, the cleanest commercially available bus fuel, said Cheryl Hinton, director of bus operations.

In the meantime, the T continues to take steps to increase ridership.

To accommodate the growing number of riders, the T has ordered 75 new bi-level coaches that will increase the number of passengers a train can carry by 40 percent.

Yesterday, transportation officials announced a program offering CharlieCards and FastLane transponders for sale at Registry of Motor Vehicles branches in Watertown and at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield.

Article URL