Transit officials say they’re “pleased” with the number of people taking the Music City Star. The commuter train is marking its 5th anniversary. Ridership has shot up in the last year.
Projections set five years ago were 1,500 passengers a day. The train has still never hit that, even on one day, but the Lebanon-to-Nashville line has been setting records month after month, in part thanks to rising gas prices. In July, the Regional Transportation Authority reports there were more than 1,200 passenger trips a day. That’s a 45 percent increase over the same period last year.
(Courtesy RTA)
RTA board chair Jo Ann Graves says the 5th anniversary is a “significant milestone,” suggesting it validates the service. The Music City Star has come under scrutiny because of the expense of operating with half-empty cars.
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