Recently released numbers from the American Public Transportation Association reveal that Americans took 2.8 billion rides on mass transit from April through June — up 5.2 percent from the same period last year. But with underfunded transit agencies struggling to pay the bills, fare hikes or service cuts could be coming soon.

Despite record ridership numbers, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority is preparing to become yet another agency to cut service at a time when transit users need it the most. (Providence Journal — Bruce Landis)

Another transit agency with a big jump in ridership, another plan to cut service — Vermont’s Burlington Free Press says the Chittenden County Transportation Authority needs to keep its buses running.

For bus riders in Gainesville, Florida, bad news comes in pairs — the regional transit authority is planning on raising fares while reducing service on some routes and eliminating others. (Independent Florida Alligator — Zahara Zahav)