According to AAA Texas, the average gallon of regular unleaded in Corpus Christi is $3.92. Compare that to taking the bus all day for $1.75.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (CCRTA) will keep bus fares despite rising gas costs in the area.
As fuel prices soar, transportation officials believe it could lead to increased ridership as people look for ways to save money.
According to AAA Texas, the average gallon of regular unleaded in Corpus Christi is $3.92. The current cost is four cents lower than the highest average price ever for gas, which was $3.96 in 2008.
Rita Patrick, director of marketing for CCRTA, said that despite rising prices at the pump, their vehicles run on a variety of fuel sources, including compressed natural gas or CNG. Alternative sources are also more affordable.
The CCRTA offers approximately 36 routes that can take passengers anywhere they need to go in the Corpus Christi area, including areas such as Robstown and Port Aransas.
“You can ride the bus all day for $1.75 and if you’re a student you can ride the bus for 25 cents,” Patrick said.
She adds that bus ticket prices compare well to what a gallon of gas costs in recent days. According to Patrick, a 31-day pass to ride the bus costs $30. The month pass is much cheaper than what it would cost to fill up at the gas station.
“I encourage everyone whether you’re going to the grocery store, the doctor, work or school, we encourage everyone to use the public transit system for their transportation needs,” said Patrick .
With rising gas prices, Patrick said transit ridership has gradually increased.
“Before COVID, we were running 15 to 16,000 runners a day,” Patrick said. “So we’ve seen a decrease, but as COVID lessens and people go back to work, we’ve seen an increase in our ridership which we’re delighted.”
Although the idea of switching from cars to public transport may require some tweaking, Patrick encourages residents to plan routes on the CCRT website and use their app to better understand their options.
“You can see if you’re at a bus stop, when the bus will arrive, how soon it will arrive, and which bus to take,” Patrick said.
For more information on bus routes and where to start planning your next trip, click here.
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