Philadelphia Transportation Thread - Page 29

volguus zildrohar · #**561** Posted **Nov 20, 2011, 4:27 AM**

I'm glad it was finally awarded but I foresee a world of bugs just because it is SEPTA.

thenbagis · #**562** Posted **Dec 14, 2011, 5:50 PM**

The Northeast gets some Federal cash...

SCHWARTZ ANNOUNCES $10 MILLION GRANT TO IMPROVE COMMUTE FOR NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA AND EASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY RESIDENTS

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa13_schwartz/pr_dec12_tigergrant.html

Quote:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz announced today a $10 million grant to upgrade more than 100 existing traffic signals along three transit arteries covering nearly 16 miles in Philadelphia—the majority of them along Castor, Oxford and Bustleton Avenues in the Northeast.

In October, Schwartz wrote a letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood in support of this project. The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) initiative and will be awarded to the City of Philadelphia in partnership with SEPTA and PennDOT

EastSideHBG · #**563** Posted **Dec 16, 2011, 4:07 PM**

This is such good news, as the current traffic light timing set up is AWFUL!

Phil_North · #**564** Posted **Jan 17, 2012, 6:02 PM**

For as much as we all complain about SEPTA, what it should be, and what it could be, I found this interesting comment in a letter to the Boston Globe from a reader named Jessica Bagg:

Quote:

Oh, if only our system was anything like Philadelphia’s

JANUARY 17, 2012

I HAD to chuckle a bit to read how the MBTA fares compared to that of other metropolitan areas ( “T’s fares compared,’’ Metro, Jan. 6). I lived in Philadelphia for a number of years, and rode the SEPTA subway line during the rush-hour commute. Rarely did I experience a delayed or broken-down train or a so-called mechanical failure. They even have a thing called “express trains’’ to service more frequented destinations....

I've never ridden Boston's transportation system. I've been told by others that it is very similar to Septa's.

Nexis4Jersey · #**565** Posted **Jan 17, 2012, 11:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil_North

For as much as we all complain about SEPTA, what it should be, and what it could be, I found this interesting comment in a letter to the Boston Globe from a reader named Jessica Bagg:

I've never ridden Boston's transportation system. I've been told by others that it is very similar to Septa's.

There the same , all modes of Rail travel and system layout. Boston has been sliding alot , and there system has fallen behind like septa with restorations...and expansions...

hammersklavier · #**566** Posted **Jan 18, 2012, 1:56 AM**

Boston's is like SEPTA ca. 1980 (i.e. before the Center City Commuter Tunnel was built).

summersm343 · #**567** Posted **Jan 18, 2012, 2:09 AM**

There are plans for an expansion of the Broad Street Subway line to the Navy Yard and a light rail for the the Delaware waterfront. Also several trolley lines will begin use again. They really need to reopen the trolley line that runs through Temple's Campus...

Nexis4Jersey · #**568** Posted **Jan 18, 2012, 2:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

There are plans for an expansion of the Broad Street Subway line to the Navy Yard and a light rail for the the Delaware waterfront. Also several trolley lines will begin use again. They really need to reopen the trolley line that runs through Temple's Campus...

They need to do alot of things , Septa is run by morons....so none of what Philly and the surrounding region want will get done this decade...

summersm343 · #**569** Posted **Jan 18, 2012, 2:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

They need to do alot of things , Septa is run by morons....so none of what Philly and the surrounding region want will get done this decade...

Except for the extension of the Broad St line to the Navy Yard and the reopening of several trolley lines... that WILL happen. I believe there is a GREAT chance for a light rail on the Waterfront. The tracks are already there... they just need to extend it a bit to Sugarhouse and build some stations...

I also think there was a plan to reopen a trolley line that runs passed the convention center on 12th street?? This line runs all the way north through Temple's campus... that would be nice. That I DOUBT will happen though. It would also be nice to have an extension of the Market Frankford Line deep into the North East and a new Subway line going to the Northwest, those are just my hopes and dreams tho

Nexis4Jersey · #**570** Posted **Jan 18, 2012, 3:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by summersm343

Except for the extension of the Broad St line to the Navy Yard and the reopening of several trolley lines... that WILL happen. I believe there is a GREAT chance for a light rail on the Waterfront. The tracks are already there... they just need to extend it a bit to Sugarhouse and build some stations...

I also think there was a plan to reopen a trolley line that runs passed the convention center on 12th street?? This line runs all the way north through Temple's campus... that would be nice. That I DOUBT will happen though. It would also be nice to have an extension of the Market Frankford Line deep into the North East and a new Subway line going to the Northwest, those are just my hopes and dreams tho

It will happen , but when is the question... Philly might has more Trolley plans then septa , all they need is some $$$ and someone to run them. Septa doesn't seem to care , there just as bad as the MTA in Maryland...

Phil_North · #**571** Posted **Jan 20, 2012, 8:22 PM**

Now Patco is going to try a quiet ride car. I rode the quiet car on a Septa train yesterday. I must say, the quiet car really is a nice idea. It was eerily quiet and very enjoyable. However, I have yet to encounter someone who broke the rule. Patco says they'll have occasional police to help enforce the rule.

EastSideHBG · #**572** Posted **Mar 10, 2012, 7:08 PM**

Posted: Fri, Mar. 9, 2012, 3:01 AM

Phila. synchronizing traffic lights on 21 thoroughfares

By Paul Nussbaum
Inquirer Staff Writer

To take the "stop" out of stop-and-go traffic, Philadelphia is spending about $90 million over three years to upgrade traffic signals and synchronize lights at more than 600 intersections along 21 major corridors in the city.

The first streets to get the upgrades are Oregon Avenue, 29th Street, Verree Road, Belmont Avenue, Bustleton Avenue, Chestnut Street, Walnut Street, and Woodland Avenue, said Stephen Buckley, deputy commissioner for transportation at the Streets Department.

Eventually, the city hopes to convert the lights at nearly all of its 3,000 signal-controlled intersections to digital signals that can be remotely controlled. Now, about 2,000 of the intersections are still controlled by old-fashioned electromechanical devices operated by timers on curbside poles.

The cost of replacing old signals with new, computerized signals can be more than $150,000 per intersection.

The city spent about $27 million last year to replace old signals with new ones on Market Street in West Philadelphia, on Passyunk Avenue between Broad Street and 63d Street, and on Lehigh Avenue between Broad and Richmond Streets.

But relatively simple timing adjustments to existing signals can make significant changes in traffic flow.

"If you can reduce crosstown driving by three or four minutes, that's helpful for everyone," Buckley said Thursday.

The city hadn't had a program to recalibrate the timers since the 1980s because of a lack of money and personnel, Buckley said.

The three-year plan for about $90 million will use primarily state and federal funds, he said.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/201203..._traffic_lights_on_21_thoroughfares.html

Jonboy1983 · #**573** Posted **Mar 11, 2012, 3:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

They need to do alot of things , Septa is run by morons....so none of what Philly and the surrounding region want will get done this decade...

Is extending the R3/Elwin line back to West Chester one of those things they need to do? Me thinks it is. I wrote my masters research paper on this matter, and my findings say so as well, based on population and traffic data...

Nexis4Jersey · #**574** Posted **Mar 11, 2012, 3:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

Is extending the R3/Elwin line back to West Chester one of those things they need to do? Me thinks it is. I wrote my masters research paper on this matter, and my findings say so as well, based on population and traffic data...

Yes , that and improving Urban service to keep up with the population growth and KOP and Reading lines....

Nouvellecosse · #**575** Posted **Mar 11, 2012, 10:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

Boston's is like SEPTA ca. 1980 (i.e. before the Center City Commuter Tunnel was built).

Isn't Boston commuter totally diesel with Septa totally electric?

I'd consider that a huge achievement on Septa's behalf.

Jonboy1983 · #**576** Posted **Mar 11, 2012, 3:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

Yes , that and improving Urban service to keep up with the population growth and KOP and Reading lines....

I was at a seminar held by the DVRPC (Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission) a little while back, and that was one of the many topics discussed. We were hypothetically handed a billion dollar grant and were placed into teams to figure out how to spend that grant -- which areas should receive this investment for improved transit access? Mine was to provide express bus service between Downingtown and West Chester (at least providing some link to regional rail for now), and another fellow proposed an extension of either the R6 or the suburban speed line out to K.O.P.

The fact that KOP has no transit access with the exception of the 125 and other buses that stop there is despicable. Many urban geographers consider that to be a rapidly growing edge city. Without adequate access to public transit, it's just going to keep sprawling outward; that's the type of development taking place there, and it's unsustainable...

hammersklavier · #**577** Posted **Mar 11, 2012, 6:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Isn't Boston commuter totally diesel with Septa totally electric?

I'd consider that a huge achievement on Septa's behalf.

Not really. Most of SEPTA's electrification predates their existence (having been installed by the Pennsylvania and Reading Railroads). SEPTA also had extensive diesel services available in 1980, none of which exist today.

What I specifically mean by my statement refers to the structure of Boston's commuter system: the former New Haven lines all feed into South Station, and the former Boston & Maine lines all feed into North Station. Prior to the completion of the Center City Commuter Connection our network looked similar: PRR lines fed into Suburban, and Reading ones the Reading Terminal.

It was probably the PRR's and Reading's electrification projects some 50 years previous that allowed the CCCC to be viable.

Nexis4Jersey · #**578** Posted **Mar 11, 2012, 9:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonboy1983

I was at a seminar held by the DVRPC (Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission) a little while back, and that was one of the many topics discussed. We were hypothetically handed a billion dollar grant and were placed into teams to figure out how to spend that grant -- which areas should receive this investment for improved transit access? Mine was to provide express bus service between Downingtown and West Chester (at least providing some link to regional rail for now), and another fellow proposed an extension of either the R6 or the suburban speed line out to K.O.P.

The fact that KOP has no transit access with the exception of the 125 and other buses that stop there is despicable. Many urban geographers consider that to be a rapidly growing edge city. Without adequate access to public transit, it's just going to keep sprawling outward; that's the type of development taking place there, and it's unsustainable...

I would like to see these by 2025...the full build out plans for the regional are only 20 Billion....extending the RR and restoring Trolley service is still cheap....Septa needs to find some other $$$ source.

1. NSHL to KOP / Valley Forge
2. Reading line
3. West Chester line
4. Restoration of 23 & 56 Trolley
5. ADA Improvements to all Center City Stations
6. High Level Platforms along all Amtrak shared lines
7. Wire replacement on all lines
8 K-Car Replacement
9. Newtown line

Nexis4Jersey · #**579** Posted **Mar 11, 2012, 9:23 PM**

My Friends Rant against the Midvale bus disrect...

• Video Link

theWatusi · #**580** Posted **Mar 11, 2012, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

I would like to see these by 2025...the full build out plans for the regional are only 20 Billion....extending the RR and restoring Trolley service is still cheap....Septa needs to find some other $$$ source.

1. NSHL to KOP / Valley Forge
2. Reading line
3. West Chester line
4. Restoration of 23 & 56 Trolley
5. ADA Improvements to all Center City Stations
6. High Level Platforms along all Amtrak shared lines
7. Wire replacement on all lines
8 K-Car Replacement
9. Newtown line

I'd be impressed if one of those happened by 2025.

"only 20 billion"? What are you high?