PORTLAND, Ore. -- For the first time in a year, the number of people taking public transportation has increased with MAX posting the strongest gains.

TriMet officials said weekday trips on MAX jumped about 18 percent last month when compared to February 2009. Weekend MAX trips also increased nearly 22 percent.

Transit officials credited the new green line light-rail train and the Free Rail Zone for the MAX ridership boost.

Overall, the transit organization reported a ridership increase of 1.4 percent last month.

Weekday bus ridership, however, decreased 7 percent to 1.2 million trips.