The total monthly amount of bus and light rail riders for August was about 3.8 million, a 2.6 percent increase over August 2007.
The average weekday amount of riders was 145,228, a 6.6 percent jump from August 2007, and the highest amount since August 2002.
The highest increase was in average weekday bus riders, which rose to 109,082, a 8.2 percent from last August.
VTA officials are pointing to rising energy prices and environmental concerns as a reason for the increased amount of riders.
"Santa Clara County residents continue to see the value of riding public transportation to beat the high gas prices and protect the environment," VTA General Manager Michael Burns said. "This continued growth in ridership is remarkable, particularly since an economic downturn usually causes fewer people to ride public transit."
VTA provides public transportation services to cities throughout the Santa Clara Valley, including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale.
