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MBTA Says Ridership Set Record For February

BOSTON (AP) — The MBTA is reporting its busiest month of February on record.

Acting T General Manager Jonathan Davis said Thursday that weekday ridership on the Boston-area transit system was more than 8 percent higher last month than in February 2011.

February is typically among the lower months for ridership, but the T says last month's levels were comparable to those normally seen in busier fall months.

Higher gasoline prices and unseasonably mild winter temperatures were among the factors cited for the spike in ridership.

The announcement comes one day after the MBTA recommended an average 23 percent fare hike for the system. Officials have estimated that the increase — if adopted — could cut ridership by about 5 percent.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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