Subway ridership up nearly 4 percent

-New York City's subway registered the fifth highest jump in ridership among U.S. subway and heavy rail systems in the first half of the year, according to a national report released Thursday.

Subway ridership was up 3.9 percent during the first six months of 2007 compared to the same period last year, with almost a billion total rides taken, according to the report by the American Public Transportation Association.

"To have another almost 4 percent on top of an already large number of trips taken on the New York subway system is significant," said Virginia Miller, the association's spokeswoman.

The Port Authority's PATH service ranked second, with a more than 7 percent boost in ridership. The MTA's Staten Island Railway ranked third with a more than 6 percent jump.

Bus ridership in New York City dropped slightly by half a percent.

New York City Transit has been reporting increased ridership all year. The agency attributes the boost partially to MetroCard discounts.

"Each day, New Yorkers vote with their MetroCards to the tune of 7.2 million rides," spokesman Paul Fleuranges said. "We are carrying more customers today than we have in 35 years."

Nationally, more than 5 billion trips were taken in the first half of this year, with 78 million more trips than last year.