Countywide

Free Fare Day Successful: The March 6 storm that pelted the county with rain did not put a damper on the turnout for “free fare day” on county buses, transit officials said Tuesday. Final figures showed that Orange County Transit District ridership was 109,159, an increase of 8,000 passengers, district spokeswoman Joanne Curran said. She said ridership averages about 102,000 on a regular day in good weather and had been 84,293 on a previous rainy day. “We’re pleased,” Curran said. “It encourages us to try this again. It was a good promotion.” Curran said the figures were not released until Tuesday because of delays in obtaining passenger counts from some of the district’s bus drivers.