The number of people who ride the “T” city transit system grew 25 percent in May, a Lawrence official said today.

“The rapid growth the transit system is experienceing is phenomenal and well above the industry norm,” Cliff Galante, Lawrence’s public transit administrator, said.

Last month the fixed-route system carried 35,676 passengers, compared to 28,561 in May 2005. So far this year through May, fixed-route ridership is up 15.8 percent for the same period in 2005.