The city’s public transit system, the T, posted its sixth straight year of significant ridership increases in 2006, according to data released by the city.

The T and its sister service that provides paratransit ridership to individuals who qualify saw ridership grow 8.6 percent to 477,040 during the past year.

“Growth in ridership in 2006 is a clear indication that more people in the community are embracing the benefits of public transportation and incorporating it into their lifestyles,” Cliff Galante, public transit administrator, said in a news release.

The national average increase in public transit ridership is about

3 percent, based on the most recent numbers available for 2006.