HomeDiagramsDatabaseMapsForum About
     

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Discussion Forums > Transportation


View Poll Results: Is SEPTA doing a great job in regards to bus, subway, and commuter rail overall??????
YES 56 48.70%
NO 59 51.30%
Voters: 115. You may not vote on this poll

Reply

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
     
     
  #201  
Old Posted Aug 3, 2009, 6:04 PM
Jayayess1190's Avatar
Jayayess1190 Jayayess1190 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 264
Quote:
Originally Posted by hammersklavier View Post
Changing RR designations is just obfuscating the real issue. If our RR designations work just as well as Paris' RER designations then we're obviously doing something right...SEPTA first has to address issues like its archaic fare-collection system, annoying fact that you still have to pay an extra $2 onboard for the fare if there's no ticket agent, lack of automated ticket machines, lack of heavy rail through large parts of the city yaddi yadda yadda...

Why are they making the 101 and 102 green? Are they going to add the 15 to the rail transit map? If they're getting rid of the brown color designation, is there a new Brown Line in the works?
The 101 and 102 are trolley routes, so why not make them green?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #202  
Old Posted Aug 4, 2009, 11:46 AM
We Got Five We Got Five is offline
Western Suburbs
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,003
Transportation news

Trolleys would link river rail to Center City

By Paul Nussbaum

Inquirer Staff Writer

A proposed PATCO rail line along the Delaware River waterfront likely would be linked to Center City by a new Market Street trolley line, PATCO general manager Robert Box said yesterday.

The Market Street trolleys would be an eastward extension of SEPTA's existing subway-surface trolleys that run from near City Hall to West Philadelphia and beyond.

The trolley or light rail line along Columbus Boulevard would run from Penn Treaty Park in Fishtown, near the planned Sugar House casino, south to the Pier 70 shopping complex in South Philadelphia. From there, it could eventually be extended to the Navy Yard.

The Delaware River Port Authority, the parent of PATCO, has been studying for years how to extend transit service along the Philadelphia waterfront. In January 2008, the DRPA chose three alternatives to examine more thoroughly, including two that would connect to existing PATCO trains at the soon-to-reopen Franklin Square subway station at Seventh and Race streets.

But Box said yesterday that the more likely scenario was a PATCO link at Eighth Street and Market to a new Market Street trolley line from the waterfront.

"It would run on the surface [of Market Street] all the way to Broad," Box said. There, it would link with the subway-surface trolley.

The new service, which would require federal financial help, is probably at least $1 billion and eight to 10 years away, PATCO officials have said.

And it's unclear who would run the trolleys. PATCO might build the lines, and either SEPTA or PATCO could operate them.

"All that's up in the air. I don't think there are any turf issues there," Box said.

The economic development of the waterfront on both sides of the Delaware River is part of the DRPA's mission. The port authority sees a PATCO expansion in Philadelphia as a way to improve access to the waterfront and increase employment, residential, entertainment and shopping opportunities.

Rina Cutler, Philadelphia deputy mayor for transportation, said yesterday that "no final decision has been made" on a route to link a waterfront line to Center City. She said "a lot of discussion is going on . . . and we hope to have an announcement in three or four weeks."

SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said "SEPTA is very interested in the subject" and considers it crucial that any waterfront service "does connect to the SEPTA system."

He said the "engineering challenges and financial challenges" remain formidable.

The transit expansion plans for Philadelphia are part of the DRPA's proposals for growth in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In May, the DRPA and Gov. Corzine announced ambitious plans to restore commuter rail service from Glassboro to Camden, where passengers could connect to existing PATCO service to Philadelphia.
__________________
Philadelphia City Council raises taxes for the a 4th straight year! We will never learn.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #203  
Old Posted Aug 4, 2009, 12:33 PM
pwp pwp is offline
Hello.
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Philly
Posts: 455
I'm so glad they're moving somewhat ahead with this. Regarding the Market St trolley proposal, is there a way to link the new ground-level trolleys with SSL or would riders be required to transfer?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #204  
Old Posted Aug 4, 2009, 2:04 PM
theWatusi's Avatar
theWatusi theWatusi is offline
Resident Jackass
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Your Mom's House
Posts: 11,702
The article says that this would be an "extension" of the SSL
__________________
"...remember first on me than these balls in airports" - MK
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #205  
Old Posted Aug 4, 2009, 3:41 PM
CentralGrad258's Avatar
CentralGrad258 CentralGrad258 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Fishtown, Philadelphia
Posts: 562
Quote:
But Box said yesterday that the more likely scenario was a PATCO link at Eighth Street and Market to a new Market Street trolley line from the waterfront.

"It would run on the surface [of Market Street] all the way to Broad," Box said. There, it would link with the subway-surface trolley.
How does this make any sense? Market street already has a subway line, does it really also need a surface trolley line? I was hoping for the alternative that runs to Franklin Square, but I guess it's better than nothing at all. Maybe this project will at last provide a catalyst for development of the Disney hole at 8th and Market .
__________________
Helsinki and the Finnish countryside || Kiev || St. Petersburg, Russia- Summer Palace

Philadelphia is not a city of palaces for the few, but a city of homes for the many.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #206  
Old Posted Aug 4, 2009, 4:54 PM
sirexcaliber's Avatar
sirexcaliber sirexcaliber is offline
lost philadelphian soul
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Albq,NM
Posts: 32
Subway and the Roosevelt Boulevard

If there was one thing that this city really needs is for the the subway extention up the boulevard to come true. I mean all the improvements on the highspeed rail would do wonders for the subruban communities and that is great. I will not belittle this. but as for the riders in the city. anyone teying to get any where in the northeast to down town knows it takes along time riding on a bus. or trollybus. the subway northeast extention should be a top priority to get done. this would also mean there could be a small extention of the Market-Frankford el line so that it could be extended to the Roosevelt Blvd along Bustleton Ave. to meet up with the new Subway extention and could possibly extend even further up Bustleton Ave. The Northeast section of Philadelphia is so under served by Septa this is part of the reason why there is no increase in ridership when there was no economic crisis. This is a large porsition of a major city at is mostly served by buses and a few trollybuses. Bring a rail system to this porsition of the city and there will be an increase in ridership due to the fact that there is a faster opton of getting to center city then driving their car. As far as for the Delaware/ Clumbus Blvd at first I did not think that a lightrail or trolly line on Delaware Ave/ Columbus Blvd. was a good idea but if the line were to go all the way down and around to Broad and Pattison then I could see that. I would even stretch it to say there could even be a possibility of taking this line out to the airport conecting at Pattison and Penrose Ave. going over the Schyulkill River and ending at Island Ave and the airport.
And one other thing I have not being living in philly for the last five years, I now live in Albuqerque NM and let me tell you. this transist system in this city only has buses and runs between ever half hour to an hour it took me twelve hours to get a round this city. and the service stops after 10 o;clock the service shuts down and only a handful of buses run on sunday. so before saying how bad stepa is maybe we should look at other cities and see how bad they have it

so extend the subway up the blvd and the Market-Frankford el up bustleton. then make plans for the delaware line to extend out to the sports complex and maybe to the airport.
__________________
“You have to live, live, live life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to get to the table.” Auntie Mame
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #207  
Old Posted Aug 4, 2009, 6:01 PM
Phil_North Phil_North is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Philly, PA
Posts: 179
Quote:
Originally Posted by CentralGrad258 View Post
How does this make any sense? Market street already has a subway line, does it really also need a surface trolley line? I was hoping for the alternative that runs to Franklin Square, but I guess it's better than nothing at all. Maybe this project will at last provide a catalyst for development of the Disney hole at 8th and Market .
I agree with you CentralGrad. (I'm 256) It would make sense if these same SSL trolleys were making the turn north and south up and down Columbus blvd, but it seems the plan is to simply connect to Columbus Blvd. There are several bus routes that run along Market to the waterfront that could serve the same purpose.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #208  
Old Posted Aug 4, 2009, 9:46 PM
Jayayess1190's Avatar
Jayayess1190 Jayayess1190 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 264
Where would they build the connection between the subway-surface and these trolleys?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #209  
Old Posted Aug 5, 2009, 2:55 PM
hammersklavier's Avatar
hammersklavier hammersklavier is offline
Philly -> Osaka -> Tokyo
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The biggest city on earth. Literally
Posts: 5,863
This Market Street trolley idea is nonsensical. Why not extend PATCO service west to Rittenhouse Square? Super-cheap (95% of the tunnel's already dug), and with the reopening of Franklin Square, actually provides a valuable transit option for traversing Center City...
__________________
Urban Rambles | Hidden City

Who knows but that, on the lower levels, I speak for you?’ (Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man)
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #210  
Old Posted Aug 5, 2009, 9:23 PM
Urban Jungle Urban Jungle is offline
BANNED
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 70
Im sure everyone here knows by now that Philadelphias number one distict for just about anything is center city. Of course any kind of new transportation, in the eyes of our leadership, must connect to the central hub that is city hall.
This is all they have on the mind, no out of the box thinking, "a route to link a waterfront line to Center City" Yea a line, how about the friggin MFL that already extends to second street? Or the patco line?

Haven't these people ever heard of a transfer? Why must everything overlap at city hall? As of now, and that I know of, from city hall you can take a trolley,2 different subway lines "the only SEPTA subway lines", a bus, or a cab.

I know money is tight and ridership is an issue but come on, maybe there would be an influx of new business districts, residents, and riders if there were actually some good TP. But of course anything moving outward must connect to downtown hence we should build many routes overlapping the basic iron cross that is the BSL & MFL. Priorities first the waterfront needs something fast. Business on colombus is not worth the multiple bus and train rides i have to take from my home on walnut. IKEA, Target, Tony Lukes, John's Roast Pork, Super Markets, are completely too far and too much of a hassel to take TP to. My grandmother lives on the east side of Wharton and complains! Forced always to take a bus, or multiple buses.

I wish someone with some power and money would hear these cries of the multiple people on the site who need some more options. If philadelphia wants to become a world class city, it needs to undergo some changes and produce a world class transit system. Transit that doesn't just include high speed rail to the burbs. There are major quads of this city completely underutilized. Neighborhoods all over south philadelphia, southwest center city, north east center city undergoing major gentrification and revival. The city is growing, our transportation options need to as well.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #211  
Old Posted Aug 6, 2009, 12:05 AM
Jayayess1190's Avatar
Jayayess1190 Jayayess1190 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 264
Quote:
Originally Posted by Urban Jungle View Post
Haven't these people ever heard of a transfer? Why must everything overlap at city hall? As of now, and that I know of, from city hall you can take a trolley,2 different subway lines "the only SEPTA subway lines", a bus, or a cab.
Regional rail trains are also connected to City Hall, Suburban station is accessible via the underground walkways.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #212  
Old Posted Aug 7, 2009, 12:00 AM
Urban Jungle Urban Jungle is offline
BANNED
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 70
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayayess1190 View Post
Regional rail trains are also connected to City Hall, Suburban station is accessible via the underground walkways.
There is no stop titled "city hall" on the suburban lines. You must pick them up at suburban on the other side of 15th. City hall lies on broad(14th). Technically the trolley and el don't have stops titled city hall but you know what I mean.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #213  
Old Posted Aug 7, 2009, 12:39 AM
Jayayess1190's Avatar
Jayayess1190 Jayayess1190 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 264
Quote:
Originally Posted by Urban Jungle View Post
There is no stop titled "city hall" on the suburban lines. You must pick them up at suburban on the other side of 15th. City hall lies on broad(14th). Technically the trolley and el don't have stops titled city hall but you know what I mean.
I know.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #214  
Old Posted Aug 7, 2009, 7:59 PM
hammersklavier's Avatar
hammersklavier hammersklavier is offline
Philly -> Osaka -> Tokyo
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The biggest city on earth. Literally
Posts: 5,863
Well in the event it's a pretty safe claim that everything already interconnects at City Hall anyway, so instead of trying to cram yet another line into that web why not improve transportation in more outlying parts of the city? A LRV from ~ Woodland and Grays Ferry to ~ Del Ave and Washington in its own purpose-built ROW would certainly be an aid (Washington's nice and wide due to its having hosted a PRR freight spur once upon a time), a crosstown connector allowing South Philadelphians to better access destinations as disparate as the BSL, Uni City, the Delaware Waterfront, and even the Du Pont Crescent and Forgotten Bottom...Or extend PATCO due west to Rittenhouse Square and put a stop in there, or if they're feeling more ambitious, put an el on the elevated freight line running down 25th in South Philly and interconnect it into the PATCO main; it's far enough from the BSL (about a mile) in densely-enough populated neighborhoods to merit serious ridership. Each of these suggestions is better IMO than the current travesty of a plan. I mean, why run trolleys down Market East? It's not like there's not enough transportation options there already...
__________________
Urban Rambles | Hidden City

Who knows but that, on the lower levels, I speak for you?’ (Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man)
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #215  
Old Posted Aug 8, 2009, 12:13 PM
EastSideHBG's Avatar
EastSideHBG EastSideHBG is offline
Me?!?
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Philadelphia Metro
Posts: 11,214
Web site aims to go far in transit-map market

By Zoe Tillman
Inquirer Staff Writer

In the battle for the hearts and mouse clicks of Philadelphia public transit users, one Web site, HopStop.com, is trying to compete with Internet giant Google.

To get from Point A to Point B via subway, trolley or bus, riders increasingly are turning to the Web to get directions.

Google Transit, which allows users to map public-transit routes free, announced a partnership with SEPTA last month. Philadelphia is one of more than 400 cities worldwide to feed data into Google Transit since it was launched in 2007.

HopStop, a New York City-based company with about 10 employees, added a service last Friday to offer similar free public-transit trip planning for Philadelphia.

"We are a very efficiently-run, scrappy, nimble startup," said Joe Meyer, HopStop's chief executive. "We don't have armies of engineers."

HopStop was created four years ago, originally with data only available for New York City-area transit systems. Today, it offers trip planning for about 10 cities, mostly in the United States but also including Paris and London.

The company makes money by selling advertising space on its site and contracting out to provide trip-planning services to other company Web sites.

While many public transit trip-planning Web sites exist that are city-specific, HopStop and Google Transit are among the only sites that cover many cities and regions.

Meyer, who graduated with an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1997, would not reveal how long it took or how much it cost to produce the Philadelphia site.

Unlike Google Transit, which has a direct relationship with SEPTA, HopStop compiled most of its data using specially created programs. It requested data from SEPTA and then filled in the rest manually by going through each bus and train schedule.

Meyer said HopStop was unique in that it takes user feedback into account. Hundreds of users send e-mails each week with suggestions for faster or alternate routes, which HopStop engineers factor into their system, he said.

"Google Transit goes much wider than we do," Meyer said. "But we have far more depth."

HopStop is on Google's radar as one of the only sites offering comparable services, Google Inc. spokeswoman Elaine Filadelfo said.

"Our general view is that we're excited to see more offerings," Filadelfo said. "We encourage agencies to publicly provide" information so others can use it.

That does not mean Google lacks competitive spirit. Filadelfo said one of Google Transit's advantages was its connection to other features, such as Google Maps.

Google Maps could direct more users to public transit by offering those in search of driving directions alternative bus or train routes, Filadelfo said.

HopStop may not be the only competitor for long. When SEPTA announced its partnership with Google, it also made its transit data for buses and trains publicly available and free.

SEPTA occasionally checks on sites that download the information to make sure they have it right, spokesman Richard Maloney said.

The transit agency says it is not worried about sites such as HopStop, which Maloney said he was not aware of, or Google Transit taking visitors from the SEPTA Web site.

"The more the merrier," Maloney said. "We want to provide our information as widely as we can."

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local...ap_market.html
__________________
Right before your eyes you're victimized, guys, that's the world of today and it ain't civilized.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #216  
Old Posted Aug 8, 2009, 1:02 PM
bucks native's Avatar
bucks native bucks native is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NEPA Valley
Posts: 1,300
River Rail Line




render credit: planphilly

from here: http://www.planphilly.com/node/9547


OPTIONS

Franklin Square options

August 4, 2009

The Franklin Square PATCO station is due for an upgrade.

The station, which last saw riders in 1979, is due to reopen about the end of next year. The Delaware River Port Authority hopes that the area around the station, which has seen economic growth in recent years and boasts attractions like the National Constitution Center, will be a draw for South Jersey commuters and families.

Though the 1930s-era tile will stay, it will get a thorough cleaning. And the orange cladding, dating from the ’70s, that covers the support columns will be replaced with stainless-steal coverings. The platforms, now a gray concrete, will be cleaned and sealed, and lighting will be improved.

Behind that, there are two different visions for the stations:
One, a low-cost option, would feature a bare staircase leading down to the station, replacing the concrete block covering the entrance on the corner of 7th and Race streets. Passengers would pay their fares in the main concourse underground.
The other, higher-cost, plan would feature a 2,000-square-foot headhouse located toward the center of the square. Fares would be collected above ground, and passengers would have the entire concourse on which to wait for trains.

DRPA is also considering whether to open a closed staircase across Arch Street. Though the staircase would allow riders access to the station without crossing a busy street, the “long, narrow tunnel” which connects to entrance to the main part of the station presents some security obstacles, Box said. If the staircase is opened, fares would probably be collected at an underground landing along the tunnel leading to the main concourse.

Though the station has been closed several times before due to low ridership, the agency plans to keep the station open this time around — even if the station experiences low ridership. “It’s being done to help economic development in the area.”

DRPA is leaning against using the station as part of a light-rail line the agency is planning along the Delaware River.

Though two of three plans DRPA is considering call for the line to begin at Franklin Square, where trains would then continue to Delaware Avenue — going north to Penn Treaty Park and south to Pier 70 — the agency is also considering a plan that would have trains run along Market Street.

This option, in which trains would run above-ground from City Hall, down Market Street and to rail tracks along Delaware Avenue, has the highest projected ridership and better accomplishes the goal of connecting Center City to the waterfront.

Riders would be able to transfer at stations along Market Street to catch the Market-Frankford El. In the plans involving the Franklin Square Station, a transfer would be made at the El’s Spring Garden stop.

DRPA is considering eventually expanding the line down to the sports complex and the navy yard.

Posted by Anthony Campisi
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #217  
Old Posted Aug 12, 2009, 8:44 PM
We Got Five We Got Five is offline
Western Suburbs
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,003
Subway news

SEPTA starts overhaul of Broad Street stations

By Paul Nussbaum

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

SEPTA began work today on its biggest stimulus project, a $25 million remake of two stations on the Broad Street subway line.

Local politicians and SEPTA officials gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking at the Spring Garden station, which, along with the Girard station, will get elevators, new stairs, new lights, new tiles, rebuilt columns, and new safety and communications systems.

The remodeling of the 81-year-old stations is to take two years, but service for the 10,000 daily riders at the two stations will not be interrupted, SEPTA officials said.

The project is the most expensive of 32 SEPTA projects being paid for with $191 million in federal stimulus funds. The subway station rehab will create about 200 jobs, including 100 in construction and 100 in supply and contractor work.

City officials hope the subway renovations will help buoy efforts to improve the neighborhood. The two stations are on a stretch of North Broad Street near Philadelphia Community College and the State Office Building, which is slated to be converted to apartments and retail shops.

"This is where we start our economic rebound," said U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Phila.). Fattah, whose district includes the North Broad neighborhood, was one of a half-dozen political and transit officials who used ceremonial shovels to turn a boxful of dirt for the gathered cameras.

SEPTA General Manager Joseph Casey said the transit agency "hopes to revitalize this neighborhood . . . and provide amenities" that will help its restoration.

The two stations were part of the original Broad Street subway line opened in 1928 from Olney to City Hall. That original construction took four years and cost about $320 million.

SEPTA has gradually been remodeling the outdated Broad Street stations for years. The biggest and busiest station, beneath City Hall, is still waiting its turn. SEPTA plans to spend about $72 million to upgrade that station, and the adjacent 15th Street station on the Market-Frankford line, over the next four years.
__________________
Philadelphia City Council raises taxes for the a 4th straight year! We will never learn.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #218  
Old Posted Aug 13, 2009, 6:03 PM
Phil_North Phil_North is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Philly, PA
Posts: 179
It is nice to see Broad Street Line stations getting a facelift. I know all of us have expressed our wishes on actual extensions of our subway and elevated lines and most of us have accepted the fact that under current conditions (including economic) and future trends (continual population decline) these extensions will not be built. However I found something interesting in the Chicago transportation thread regarding planned extensions of their el lines.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2...g-l-lines.html

The article closed by saying, "After approval by the CTA board, the process for all three rail-extension projects would move to carrying out environmental-impact studies required for the projects to qualify for federal grants, and a push in Congress by the Illinois delegation to win funding."

This made me think how different our situation is. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Chicago el lines extend out into the suburbs. Aside from 69th street, our subway/el system serves only the city. The majority of the Septa board is from outside of the city. Also, while Chicago is counting on the state of Illinois fighting for them, it seems at times that Philadelphia is in competition with the rest of PA. While I would've loved to have read an article about the Septa board approving extension plans here, I realize there are just too many things working against that right now for it to happen. Congrats to Chicago though.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #219  
Old Posted Aug 14, 2009, 7:05 PM
volguus zildrohar's Avatar
volguus zildrohar volguus zildrohar is offline
I Couldn't Tell Anyone
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The City Of Philadelphia
Posts: 15,988
Population decline isn't helping any plans here. You'll notice most of the transit expansion projects around the nation are happening in places that are experiencing the population growth to justify them. In some ways it's miraculous that Chicago is getting the consideration because my understanding is that CTA's relationship with Springfield isn't too dissimilar from SEPTA's relationship with Harrisburg. There isn't enough across the board cooperation to get anything that big done here right now.
__________________
je suis phillytrax sur FLICKR, y'all
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #220  
Old Posted Aug 15, 2009, 12:46 AM
winxs's Avatar
winxs winxs is offline
My CAT digs.
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Warminster / Norristown / Center City Philly
Posts: 293
Spring Garden and Girard Ave BSL station renovations



By Anthony Campisi
For PlanPhilly

SEPTA got its largest stimulus project under way Wednesday with a ceremonial groundbreaking, kicking off the reconstruction of the Spring Garden Street and Girard Avenue stations on the Broad Street Line.

The stations haven't seen major renovations since they were built in 1928 and serve a total of more than 10,000 riders a day.

SEPTA will install elevators on the street and mezzanine levels, put in new cashier booths and fare lines and construct new stairwell and elevator headhouses for passengers.

The authority will also restore the ceilings, walls, floors, support columns and platforms of both stations, install energy-efficient lighting and improve station security systems. The new stations will be compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

SEPTA general manager Joe Casey said that with the renovations, the stations will be on-par with other restored stations on the Broad Street Line south of City Hall.

Expected to cost $25 million, the restoration will be the largest single project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which has pumped $191 million into 32 "shovel-ready" projects at the authority.

SEPTA had been planning on renovating both stations, but didn't have enough money in its capital budget on hand to start on the projects, Casey explained. Without the stimulus package, construction probably would have begun in two years.

The authority says that more than 200 people will be employed in the renovations, including almost 100 construction jobs and over 100 jobs in support positions with suppliers and contractors.

Out of a total of 25 outside contractors SEPTA has hired for the project, six are based in Philadelphia.

In a short ceremony before the groundbreaking, Casey called the renovations "the major [stimulus] project in Center City Philadelphia" SEPTA is undertaking.

SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney also pointed out that the Spring Garden renovations coincide with the sale of the nearby Philadelphia State Office Building to private developers -- SEPTA hopes that this project will bring new economic life to that area of North Broad Street.

Though SEPTA and area officials didn't actually break ground -- it being North Broad, the dignitaries put their shovels into a large trough filled with dirt -- a backhoe was stationed on the northeast corner of Spring Garden and Broad streets to begin work after the press conference. The project is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2011.

SEPTA riders interviewed at the Spring Garden stop expressed cautious optimism about the renovations.

Ken Harris, who uses the Spring Garden station to get to the Free Library, said that the renovations are "long overdue."

He said that the current station is "not user-friendly." His one concern, though, is that, as in other stations, the the elevators installed here will be placed far away from fare lines, forcing elderly and disabled people to travel a long distance to get to their trains.

Robert Cleveland, who lives in Southwest Philadelphia, said that he's been impressed with recent service improvements, especially on the Market-Frankford El. However, he said that "they need to do a whole lot of alterations" to improve the Broad Street Line.

Judith Ross, a senior citizen who is hard of sight and uses a cane to walk, lauded the installation of elevators. She said that the first flight of stairs leading underground was difficult for her to use.

"Hooray for the elevators!" she yelled as she slowly descended step-by-step, right arm clutching the railing.
__________________
under a biq w
Reply With Quote
     
     
This discussion thread continues

Use the page links to the lower-right to go to the next page for additional posts
 
 
Reply

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Discussion Forums > Transportation
Forum Jump


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 8:29 AM.

     
SkyscraperPage.com - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.