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Despite the sagging economy, residents and tourists this summer have raised Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s rail ridership 17.7 percent in July — nearly 140,000 passengers — compared with July 2000.



Boardings at the Hopkins Airport station jumped from 15,673 last July to 26,600 in July 2001. Red Line heavy rail ridership reached its highest July level since 1982, increasing 20.8 percent compared with July 2000 from 780,600 passenger trips to 918,900 trips.



Ridership on GCRTA’s Blue, Green and Waterfront light-rail lines grew 14.1 percent from 357,400 to 407,900 comparing the same periods. While tall ships appeared at Harborfest July 13 - 15, the Waterfront Line carried 67,850 passengers — with 27,000 rides registered at the North Coast station.



Bus ridership, too, increased 1.5 percent from 3.83 million riders in July 2000 to 3.89 million riders last month.