MBTA ridership up for 16th straight month

BOSTON (AP) -- The MBTA has seen its number of riders increase for the 16th straight month, continuing the longest streak of growth in the agency's history.

The MBTA announced on Thursday that the average number of weekday passenger trips increased by about 40,000, or 2.9 percent over the same month a year ago.

Ridership did drop slightly from April, however.

MBTA general manager Jonathan Davis said the year-to-year growth was a credit to employees who've worked hard to deliver reliable and safe service.

The T is preparing to implement an average 23 percent fare hike on Sunday to help erase a $160 million budget deficit. But the system still faces a $100 million deficit next year and Davis is calling on lawmakers to devise a long-term solution to the agency's chronic funding woes.