This year due to gas prices, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has seen a significant increase in passengers. Mass transit use in New York City's five boroughs and surrounding counties has been trending upward for more than a decade, but the latest surge in gas prices appears to be providing an additional boost, says the NY Daily News.

The average price of gas in the city is $3.97, which is up compared to last year’s average of $3.20. The number of drivers on NYC's bridges and tunnels has gone down 1.9 percent, while the number of straphangers on the subway, Metro North and Long Island Rail Road have shown significant increases.

"Obviously, there's been an enormous push by gas prices moving people from cars to mass transit, but that's not the only factor," said Christopher Jones, vice president of research at the Regional Plan Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metropolitan region.

Policymakers could help the MTA meet its increasing demands through greater financial support and other measures. Read NYLCV's 2008 New York State Policy Agenda to learn more.