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

DATE: TUESDAY, December 13, 1994                   TAG: 9412130056
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ROANOKE VALLEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Average weekday ridership on Valley Metro has rebounded in the past three months, but it still trails last year's because of a 25 percent fare increase.

Steve Mancuso, manager of the bus company, said there is "no doubt" that the jump from $1 to $1.25 in the basic fare caused a drop in August to 4,980 riders.

Ridership now is close to last year's levels, but Mancuso said it takes six months to a year for ridership to recover completely after a fare increase or service change.

by CNB