VRE's ridership sets August record

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Public transportation systems around the region continue to set records when it comes to ridership. The latest is Virginia Railway Express.

Statistics from VRE show average ridership in August was more than 15,200 -- the highest August ever.

It is a clear indication that commuters in the D.C. region are ditching their cars and flocking toward mass transit. In fact, August is typically one of the lowest ridership months for VRE, but this August had a 10 percent spike in ridership compared to last August.

There was even one day in August where ridership clocked in at 16,801 -- the second highest ridership day ever on VRE.

As far as crowded trains, VRE riders are being told to expect more of the same. Early indications from the transit agency show that September will be a record breaking month. So far this month, there have been two days where ridership has been close to 17,000 riders.

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