PATCO and the Delaware River Port Authority have chosen two firms to study the PATCO expansion into New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The firm for New Jersey is STV Incorporated and the one for Pennsylvania is PB Americas. This study will take 18 to 24 months, and community involvement will be a signifant part of this process.
PATCO will be sending out transit ambassadors into the parking lots and stations in Philadelphia and Camden during off peak hours. This is because of the new fare collection system and because PATCO wants to improve their rider's experience by providing a friendlier environment. This is good since now riders will be able to ask questions about the service, rather than have to soley rely on maps.
On Sunday, PATCO will only be operating between Philadelphia and Collingswood due to scheduled track maintenance; however, there will be NO shuttles of any sort – riders to Lindenwold will just have to find their own way to their final destination.
Finally – the Champions have been receiving outside ads. These are mini ads (similar to what is found on the El Dorados) that are placed on the sides as well as the back (not full poster ads like the rest of the buses). These advertisements seem to be for the Fox Chase Health Center.
Also, my PHL 17 is having a huge ad campaign on the El Dorados for Family Guy. Dorados everywhere seem to be "dedicated" to this advertisement, with banner ads on the sides as well as a full back wrap. Even Germantown Dorados are getting the treatment (4502 was spotted today with these ads – the first outside ads to be placed on Germantown's fleet).
SEPTA is really trying to get as much money as possible out of all of these buses….wonder when the trains will start getting wrapped…
Judge DiVito ruled in favor of the city, and SEPTA is required to continue to sell transfers at 60 cents a piece. SEPTA, however, is not happy, and is going to appeal to the Commonwealth Court.
More info here: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20070816_SEPTA_paper_tranfers_will_continue.html
The Philadelphia School District and SEPTA got 6 million dollars from the state to provide free transportation to city students, resolving the concern with students having to pay much more for their trip to school under the proposed transfer elimination. Apparently, Philadelphia School District was the only school district to not provide free transportation for middle and high school students, and families had to pay around 300 dollars over the school year.
Each student (living at least 1.5 miles away from their school) will receive a special free weekly school transpass, which will only be good for school days during the normal student commuting hours.
Even with the problem of school transportation solved, the lawsuit between the city and SEPTA still goes on!
The 2007 SEPTA Bus Roadeo will be held at Cornwell Heights Station in parking lot 2 on Saturday, September 15, 2007. The competition starts at 8 AM – be there or be square!
SEPTA requested that Judge DiVito hold off on his ruling in the lawsuit regarding SEPTA's plan to eliminate transfers until the 17th of August. SEPTA didn't disclose why, but the city isn't against its decision to postpone the decision So, keep on enjoying your transfers until then. Interestingly enough, the transfers currently in use are dated as well (what was SEPTA planning to do with these transfers if the elimination took place?)
More info here: http://www.thebulletin.us/site/news.cfm?newsid=18685568&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=6
As you may have noticed, SEPTA is still selling transfers at least until Thursday until Judge DiVito comes up with a ruling. Now the transfers aren't dated, but are marked with "Emergency."
With the lawsuit, the FTA is ordering SEPTA to produce a report of an analysis of how the elimination of transfers will affect the low income residents – they have 30 days to do so. SEPTA states that they were unaware that they were required to produce such an analysis.
This is an interesting story developing – more information can be found in this article: http://philly.metro.us/metro/local/article/City_SEPTAs_lowincome_riders_losing_out/9568.html
UPDATE AUGUST 8TH, 14:10 – Today's transfers are marked August 8th, 2007.
After seven hours of feuding between SEPTA and the city in court, Judge Gary DiVito ordered SEPTA to continue offering transfers at least until Monday so he can careful study the testimonies offered by both sides about the effects of eliminating transfers. The transfers that are being offered these next few days are the same as they always were, with the date printed on each one.
