Good news for OC Transpo ridership? Who'd have guessed...

Despite predictions of a tremendous fall in OC Transpo ridership after the 53-day winter 2009 transit strike, 580 CFRA is reporting that city staff are reporting higher than anticipated ridership numbers, which has resulted in a $4M surplus in the transit utility's budget.

From the 580 report:

Staff say revenues in the first quarter was "significantly higher than projected" due to fewer strike related refunds of December transit pass sales and higher ridership.

OC Transpo will continue to monitor the ridership numbers and will provide a further update on revenues this summer.