by KYW's John Ostapkovich

SEPTA is not experiencing a rush of new commuters trying to escape high gas prices, nor does it expect to.

The transit agency has been down this route before, says spokesman Richard Maloney, including during the gas lines of the '70s. And the long-term lesson is that a lot of people will simply bear the cost to drive. 

Over the past few months to a year, Maloney says, the regional rails have seen about a five percent increase in ridership -- but use of the buses, subways, and trolleys of the City Division has remained pretty steady:

"Usually we find that people who choose public transportation on a permanent basis are those who are going to do it to go to work for the speed and the convenience.  Cost often is not the primary motivator."

SEPTA itself has had to deal with the rising cost of fuel.  Maloney says diesel is three times higher than three years ago, but even so it amounts to just a fraction of SEPTA's budget.