Author: van2025ko

…if the state legislature follows Ed Rendell's demands.  According to today's Metro newspaper, Rendell is willing to ship federal transportation funds to SEPTA on one condition – that the legislature passes a plan for a dedicated fund for transit.  Knowing that his plan to tax the oil companies with a specific Pennsylvania tax for all business done in Pennsylvania won't take effect until March of 2008 (which is quite a bit too late to save transit), he is willing to use these federal dollars to fund transportation for that time, provided that the money would eventually be paid back.

SEPTA started the first hearing today in Delaware County.  As you may already know, these hearings are in regards to SEPTA’s Fiscal Year 2008 budget proposal, including the increase in fare among other things.  Depending on whether or not the state legislature comings bearing good money, the fares may increase 11 percent or 25 percent.

The other hearings are at these locations and times – why not voice your opinion in regards to the proposal, accessible by clicking here:

Montgomery County Human Service Center
(formerly Sacred Heart Hospital)
Community Room – Main Floor
1430 Dekalb Pike
Norristown, PA 19404
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Pennsylvania Convention Center
One Convention Center Place
1101 Arch Street, Room 204ABC
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Thursday, April 12, 2007
11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

West Chester Borough Hall
Council Chambers
401 E. Gay Street
West Chester, PA 19380
Friday, April 13, 2007
2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Bucks County Free Library
Pearl Buck Meeting Room
150 South Pine Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Monday, April 16, 2007
2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

For more information, please visit the SEPTA website.

Richard Sarles was selected to become Executive Director of New Jersey Transit, replacing George Warrington.  He has an impressive background in transit, which includes working with Amtrak to establish High Speed Service and electrify to Boston, as well as working with PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson) in the rehabilitation of their railcars.  With New Jersey Transit, he also helped to start the RiverLINE in addition to extensions to the Hudson Bergen Light Rail and Newark Light Rail in Northern New Jersey.  You can read more about him in New Jersey Transit's press release.

Both 5151 and 5140, former TH Properties NABIs, had there wraps removed in the past couple of weeks.  Although they haven't been repainted (and look horrible cosmetically), 5140 was spotted with another ad this morning. 

Later, 5658 was missing its wrap as well, and most likely 5657 is in the same state.  The ending of the TH Properties bus wrapping compaign ended after quite a few years (and buses) of wrapping buses, which included the late 3487 and 3488, as well as two other Neoplans before them.

New Jersey Transit has schedule changes throughout the state that will start on March 31st.  In Camden County, besides minor time adjustments, these are the notable highlights (from the NJT website):

Route 318 – Philadelphia – Camden – Six Flags Great Adventure – weekend service will start for the 2007 season on Saturday, April 7th.

Route 453 – Camden – Ferry Ave PATCO – The route will be adjusted to operate via Antioch Manor on Van Buren Street at Ferry Avenue and Ferry Manor on Davis Street at Ferry Avenue

This morning at around 8am, a two car rt 100 train (probably a Norristown Express) slid through the Norristown Station and hit the bumper a bit too hard.  Nine people suffered minor injuries (although one was taken away on a stretcher), yet the damage doesn't seem to bad on the car. 

The line was shut down between Hughes Park and Norristown for investigation (the cause of the accident is unknown at this time), with shuttle buses providing replacement service.

Photographs can be found here: http://www.nbc10.com/news/11384190/detail.html?dl=mainclick.

Chester County received additional bus service, thanks to some help by PennDOT.  Routes 205 and 306 both began service today, along with a modified rt 314.  The new route 205 compliments existing rt 206 service from Paoli Station to Great Valley, serving areas not currently served by rt 206.  The 306 runs from Brandywine Town Center in Delaware to Great Valley (Main Line Industrial Park) via West Chester Transportation Center.  The modified 314 has eliminated the West Chester Circulator (will anyone actually miss it?) and boosted service (particularly in the midday) on the main route. 

All service on these routes will be handled by Krapf's Coaches (Keystone Quality Transport will no longer operate the 314), and operate weekdays only. Also, the 205 and 306 are using low floor cutaway buses that were purchased by Krapfs.

Now, SEPTA has a new feature on the website called Trainview.  With Trainview, you can see if your train is on-time or just how late it is.  This system is still in its early phases, though, and you can only refer to certain trains by the train identification numbers (which can be found in schedules).  Check it out for yourself: http://trainview.septa.org/.

Kawasaki LRV 9047 just had a new stop request sign installed.  This sign, in the location of the current "Stop Requested" signs on the rest of the fleet, is similar to the LED signs in the bus fleet.  It features the date, time, and flashes "Stop Requested" when the cord is pulled.  Links to pictures can be found at the following location: http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=36521.

Installation of multicolored LED signs has begun on the route 100 “N5” cars. 

So far, 154 and 155 have been retrofitted.  These signs, replacing the problematic roll signs, will have colors representing Local in white lettering, Norristown, 69th Street Terminal, and Radnor express in red, non revenue signs probably in yellow, Limiteds in blue and Hughes Park Expresses in green, which are their present color representations.