News

Finally, late last night, the legislature agreed on a new budget for the state, ending the shutdown.  Among all the other points with this agreement, transit and our roadways are receiving an additional 946 million dollars a year.  Money for this is being paid by bonds, an increase in tolls in 2009, and the implementation of tolls on Interstate 80.  Rendell feels that this additional money will satisfy the needs of transportation in the state for the next 10 to 15 years.

More information on this budget agreement can be found here: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_top/20070710_Deal_Ends_Shutdown.html

With the 60 million federal dollars it received previously, PATCO is getting ready to put its first 12 cars into its rehabilitation program in the next 8 to 10 months.  Although the total cost of this project will be about 180 million dollars, PATCO states it doesn't need all the money at once, since they will only be taking 12 cars out of service at a time.  These cars are being rehabbed to modernize the fleet, as well as for the fact that since Budd and Canadian Vickers are out of business, parts for the fleet are hard to come by.  In many cases, they have to build the parts themselves!

On the outside, the cars will be essentially the same, but the inside will be completely different, with a new blue/grey interior and individual high backed seats.  Also, the traction motors will be different – perhaps AC traction!

More information about the rehabilitation program (including a copy of the article from the Gloucester Times) can be found here: http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=41201&sid=48c329375ffdd6832673ceb821e26ba6

The Market Frankford Line will be shut down for 9 days starting Friday, July 13 at 8pm, running until July 23.  All trains will stop at 40th Street, where passengers will transfer to the many shuttle buses that will be waiting.  This shutdown is due to construction on the Market Street El.

Today the SEPTA board approved plan A of the fare increase proposal, which will take effect July 9th.  Although the base fare and price of tokens are the same, a lot of other things are changing and/or being elminated.  This includes:

1. The elimation of transfers (July 31)
2. Replacing the Daypass with a One Day Convenience Pass for 8 rides in one day on the transit division
3. A new Zone 1 Trailpass (starting July 30, monthlies starting in Aug)
4. Charging the on board surcharge on Regional Rail regardless of whether or not the station is open

And a lot more.  Please visit the following webpage for more grim details: http://www.septa.org/fares/July2007/index.htm

In an effort to gain more ridership in the Manayunk and Roxborough areas, SEPTA is advertising "neighborhood" routes.  These routes include the 65, 27, 61, 9, and even the R6!

SEPTA has been using things such as drink coasters, pins, magnets, and pocket maps to advertise the services in this area.  You may also see these ads on the outside and inside of various buses, particularly buses out of the Midvale and Allegheny districts.

This advertising campaign only costs $45,000, and is being used as a tool to not only gain new riders, but to alert them to changes in routes as well (such as the rerouting of the 35 over the past few years).  This campaign will be used in the future for other areas as well.

For more information, please visit this webpage: http://philly.metro.us/metro/local/article/SEPTA_hopes_to_pick_up_riders_with_bar_campaign/9140.html

Wissahicken Transfer Center, now known as Wissahicken Transportation Center, reopened on Monday.  The transportation center now has more space for the buses, with a clearly marked drive lane and bus parking spots.  There's a new bus platform with a large shelter for passengers as well.

DelDOT, DART, and Operation Lifesaver Delaware are going to sponsor the "Rail to the Fair" Saturday, July 21st, 2007.  This train will take passengers from Philadelphia to the Delaware State Fair in Harrington.  There will even be an excursion trip along the Indian River Secondary towards Georgetown.  For more details, please visit the following website: http://www.dartfirststate.com/events/rail/

 

All of the 5501-5600 series New Flyers have been overhauled and returned to service. SEPTA has turned there attention to the 5613-5712 series D40LFs. Thus far 5617, 5633, 5640, 5651, and 5656 have been overhauled and retrofitted with Cummins ISL-280 engines.

 Daryl Jackson

46th Street is next!  This station will close tomorrow at 8pm for about a year as SEPTA builds a new station in its place. Routes 64 and 31 will be detoured, and the 31S will return!  You can find more information about this at Digital50.com. Also, 60th Street Station will reopen Monday morning for the start of service.

Due to construction at Wissahicken Transfer Center, there will be a 9 day shut down of this loop.  This shut down will occur from Friday, June 15 at 5pm to Monday, June 25 at 6am.  During the shutdown, bus routes that use the loop will use the former site of the "Ravine", on Ridge Ave between Calumet and Merrick Streets.  Once this is over with, riders will be greeted with a larger, more customer friendly transfer center.

Please visit the following webpage for additional information: http://www.septa.org/travel_advisory/bus_20070615.html.