Transit
Issue discussion
Over the next 15 years we need to:
The City must be aggressive in planning public transit. The lack of funding, and SEPTA’s own troubles, has made long-term planning almost impossible. Philadelphia must take the lead. Council has a Transportation Committee which as far as I know has not met in the last six years. I will seek the chairmanship of that committee and I will also seek to be Philadelphia’s representative on the SEPTA Board in order to force SEPTA to engage in the long term planning we need to create the best public transit system in the country.
Create an electronic fare system that automatically gives riders the best fare, that encourages efficient use of the system, and that enables shoppers to get on and off buses and trolleys in their neighborhood as much as they want for one low fare.
Build a new transit line running up the Roosevelt Boulevard. Even conservative projections show that this line would have very high ridership and would reduce congestion and accidents on the Boulevard.
Convert commuter rail to light rail. With light rail, trains could run every 15 to 20 minutes, new stations could be opened in the city, and express lines could run to the suburbs.
Put WiFiservice on all trains and, when technologically feasible, buses.
Build a bus system that run flexible routes as determined by computer mapping and GPS technology. This would let buses drop off and pick up people two to three blocks from their homes.
Restore the 23 Trolley. Trolleys are more energy-efficient and less polluting than buses and have a higher carrying capacity. They also encourage ridership because most people prefer them to buses. Yet SEPTA does not have to pay the costs of the bus infrastructure—our roads are paid for by the city and PennDOT—but it does have to pay for upkeep on the rails the trolleys use. Thus what is rational for SEPTA is irrational for our region as a whole.
Extend the the Broad Street line down to the Navy Yard.
Build a new transit line on Columbus Boulevard with an extension down to the Sports Complex and a loop into Center City. This is vital link that will allow people who live on the waterfront to get into center city to work and to get to the shopping district in South Philadelphia. It will allow everyone in the city to take advantage of new development and recreation centers on the river. And it will protect the port from the traffic that would be created by new development.
