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A number of transit agencies have been reporting ridership gains for months. So, it's no surprise that total public transit ridership rose 5.2 percent to 2.8 billion trips in the second quarter compared with second-quarter 2007's total, according to the American Public Transportation Association.

Light-rail ridership jumped 12.3 percent, with double-digit increases posted at agencies in Buffalo, N.Y. (45.9 percent); Philadelphia (34.9 percent); Kenosha, Wis. (26.9 percent); Sacramento (26.3 percent); Salt Lake City (19.4 percent); Minneapolis (16 percent); Baltimore (13.7 percent); San Francisco (12.2 percent); and Pittsburgh (12 percent).

Commuter-rail ridership rose 4.9 percent. The largest increases were registered in Portland, Maine (43.2 percent); Seattle (30.9 percent); Pompano Beach, Fla. (28.8 percent); Santa Fe, N.M. (28.3 percent); Harrisburg, Pa. (17.8 percent); Philadelphia (15.5 percent); Dallas (15.3 percent); Stockton, Ca. (14.9 percent); New Haven, Conn. (13.7 percent); and Oakland, Ca. (13.7 percent).

Finally, heavy-rail ridership increased 4.3 percent, APTA said. Agencies posted significant gains in San Juan, Puerto Rico (20.8 percent); Atlanta (15.6 percent); New York City (11.3 percent); Miami (9.2 percent); Lindenwold, N.J. (9.1 percent); Boston (7.7 percent); Los Angeles (7.6 percent); Jersey City, N.J. (5.7 percent); San Francisco (5.6 percent): and Baltimore (5.3 percent).