MBTA ups rush-hour service

 BOSTON. The average Hub commuter choosing public transportation over driving into work saves $1,224 a month, the largest amount among the nation’s top 20 cities with the highest ridership, according to a new study released Thursday.

The American Public Transportation Association’s “Transit Savings Report” found Boston commuters taking public transit are saving $13,490 annually on average, which also takes into account high gas prices and the cost of parking. Boston narrowly edged out New York City and San Francisco, which followed on the list.

The announcement coincides with a pledge from the MBTA, amid a spike in ridership, to increase the number of trains during rush hour on the Green, Blue and Red lines. The T will also start running six-car trains on the Blue Line starting Monday, Sept. 15. According to the T, July was the best month for ridership in more than a decade, and ridership was up 10 percent over last July.

But that increase has brought scores of complaints from riders of overcrowded trains and buses. To deal with overcrowding, the MBTA will tweak its bus schedule, including running more No. 9 buses in the morning, running larger buses for the No. 32 route in the afternoon and having the 88 bus run short trips between Clarendon Hill and Davis Square in the mornings.