Editor's Note: This is the second installment of a four-part series on gas prices.

As more and more consumers turn to public transit to reduce their reliance on gas, transit providers are also being hit by increased costs.

In addition to rising gas prices, the record-breaking numbers of locals turning to AC Transit, BART and campus shuttles for transportation has increased public transit operating costs.

AC Transit is searching for ways to close its $20 million budget gap, caused largely by rising gas prices.

"It's the dramatic increase in the cost of gas that's really throwing us a curveball," said AC Transit spokesperson Clarence Johnson.

AC Transit held a public hearing in May to discuss the possibility of raising fares on its buses to offset rising operating costs.

The system currently spends about $20 million on gas each year, and each $0.10 increase in gas prices increases costs by approximately $620,000 over the course of a year, Clarence Johnson said.

The system's board of directors decided against increasing fares at this time, opting to place a proposed increase to the parcel tax on November's ballot.

The increase would double the current parcel tax from $48 to $96.

Clarence Johnson said the tax increase, if passed, would go a long way in closing the current budget gap.

AC Transit has also recently seen an increase in the number of passengers by at least 4 million people since 2003.

"Folks are more and more opting to take our buses," Clarence Johnson said.

Even methods of transport that are not powered by gas are impacted by the increases.

The BART system, which consists of entirely electric trains, is also experiencing changes resulting from higher gas prices.

Ridership on the trains is up by 25,000 people per weekday compared to the same time last year, and is up by about 75,000 people per weekday compared to five years ago.

"Gas prices are a double-edge sword," stated BART spokesperson Linton Johnson in an e-mail.

He said that while gas prices are a driving force in the rising passenger counts and are consequently increasing revenues, they are also creating challenges for BART.

The increase in revenues due to the larger number of passengers is not enough to build more parking structures and expand bus services to

accommodate the new passengers, Linton Johnson said.

BART is also facing increased operating costs due to the cost of maintaining its aging trains.

As BART and AC Transit are facing an increase in passengers, UC Berkeley campus shuttle services have seen similar ridership trends.

Ridership on daytime campus shuttles is up by about 11 percent since the same time last year, and the cost of gas used to operate the shuttles has increased by $1,000 per month over the same period.

As of yet, however, there have been no cuts in service or increases in ride fares, said Fredrick Johnson, assistant manager of field operations for the campus Office of Parking and Transportation.

While gas prices are a major contributing factor in the record-breaking passenger counts on BART and other forms of public transit, Linton Johnson said it is a combination of many factors.

"Right now, we have the perfect storm ... the commute is comprised of high costs, heavy traffic and lots of jobs," he said.

Tags: AC TRANSIT, BART