A new agreement between the city and Kansas University is being credited with significant increases in ridership on the T bus system.

The city reported Friday that ridership on the T in September is up 19.8 percent from September 2007. A total of 35,276 rides were provided on the T during the month.

In mid-August the city for the first time began allowing Kansas University students to ride the T for free as long as they showed a valid student ID.

Voters on Nov. 4 will decide whether to approve two sales tax questions designed to provide funding for the bus system for the next 10 years. City commissioners have said if the sales taxes pass they are interested in pursuing a full merger with the Kansas University bus system.

The increase in September continues a reversal of ridership numbers for the T. Ridership began increasing on the T in July. Prior to that, ridership – when compared with the same month in the previous year – had declined for 15 consecutive months, dating back to April 2007.