
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, September 13, 1994                   TAG: 9409140061
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: C-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ROANOKE VALLEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Higher bus fares had an impact last month on Valley Metro's business. The regional bus system reported average weekday ridership of 4,980 passengers in August, down 1.5 percent from 5,057 the year before. Valley Metro as a rule betters its average every month.

Spokeswoman Kathy Pruitt attributed the drop to two factors: the increase in the fare from $1 to $1.25 in mid-July when the buses began extended service during evening hours, and the high number of rainy days last month. Rain generally depresses ridership.

by CNB