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Originally Posted by Vince_
It would be more realistic to have light rail run on the current tracks on Delaware Ave from around the Fillmore to like Washington Ave. and have it turn on Washington Ave. and go west across the city. A dream scenario would include this crossing the river and connecting to U City and 30th St. Station.
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I don't have a problem with light rail, but I'd rather expand and renovate the current light rail system we have right now (the subway-surface system of West and Southwest Philadelphia) than erecting a light rail along Delaware Ave. Besides, I'd love to see the city expand it's heavy-rail subway system, but then again, that should've been done during the early 20th century until the 1960's.
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Originally Posted by JohnIII
The topic of a subway on Delaware Avenue isn't a new idea; they had one years ago and to build one would open an important question; would it be above ground in an elevated line which was the way the old subway was or would it be below ground. If the subway were below ground then it would be more costly especially because what is now Delaware Avenue was once the banks of the Delaware River; must of it is landfill; and it would possible require historical excavation such as old ship yard docks from the 1700's and earlier fortification that still exist under the surface like a British Fort built for colonial Philadelphia near what was called Wicaco Lane but is now Washington Avenue; that fort is still there under the surface probably. If you build an Elevated Subway the same excavations may still take place but the subway may be cheaper to construct.
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My suggestion of extending the MFL into Penn's Landing was specifically as a spur being extended to South Street. I could see two stops along I-95, and both stops would be underground, not elevated. I don't believe having a stop along Penn's Landing is superfluous, the stops need to be spaced evenly to support the frequencies of the service, which is why I'd place one stop between Chestnut and Walnut, and another stop on South St, not does that make any sense?
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnIII
A subway on Delaware Avenue isn't a bad idea however I don't think the development at Penn's warrants it since its a 5 minute walk from Olde City; what I think would warrant it however is to run a subway all the way toward the Philadelphia Naval Yard and turn west just short of it so that it runs up Packer Avenue; this way residence in South Philadelphia who live east of 9th Street have better access to mass transit as well as th Port facilities; Liberty on the River; and Waterfront Boulevard will have mass transit access as well. A subway on Delaware Avenue in time may be justified but it may be early days yet.
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I don't think a subway along Columbus Blvd is a bad idea neither, but I'm not sure how line from 2nd St on the MFL via South Columbus Blvd to Packer Ave is going to work, considering that most lines not just in Philly, but in NYC, Chicago, Boston, et. al., usually go north to south and east to west. Who knows, all I know is that it would've been better had the subway system been built during much of the 20th century, when we peaked at 2.2 million people than today, when we're still struggling with how to create and provide subway service, let alone regional rail service to the far flung communities such as Allentown, Reading, Lancaster, and West Chester.