Stuff to know
SEPTA “Bus Revolution” Transit Talk
On June 14th the SEPTA “Bus Revolution” team hosted a Transit Talk where they went over the results of their last two months of outreach for SEPTA’s cost-neutral bus network redesign. Only 1,774 riders responded to their survey, while the Community Conversation had 254 participants, and in-person comments were received from 153 riders. Even operators, which would be one of the easiest groups to reach out to, with intimate, first hand knowledge of the bus system, the consultancy team only presented their proposals to 13 of them.
We conducted a small survey of riders we’ve met through our previous canvassing, asking if they had heard about SEPTA’s bus network redesign– just over ¾ of respondents said that they had not heard about it, so it’s clearly something most riders aren’t familiar with at all. Despite these disappointing numbers, that pale in comparison even to other mass outreach events completed by transit agencies, the “Bus Revolution” team still feels confident in moving to the next stage in their outreach.
NJT Bus Network Redesign
Like SEPTA, New Jersey Transit is planning a redesign of their bus network in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester County. The level of outreach has been much lower compared to SEPTA. New Jersey Transit has continued to publish very little information about their bus redesign on their website. The only update given for the summer, so far, is that they started doing in-person outreach at Avandale Park and Ride, Walter Rand, Woodbury and Moorestown Mall, although they haven’t specified the time or date for any of these outreach events.
Stuff to do
Are you ready to help organize for expanded public transit? We have outreach and research tasks below that anyone can do.
Put Up TRU Informational Posters
Want to put up TRU posters in your neighborhood? We are concerned that riders will be caught off guard with changes that SEPTA is making. So we’ve made posters that explain to riders, in clear language, that changes are being proposed to the bus network and how to contact us for more information. You can print out copies of TRU posters (landscape version, portrait version) or we will mail laminated copies to you.
(Time commitment: 1-4 hours, once. Contact: org@phillytru.org / 267-313-6060)
Answer the TRU Hotline
Like to talk to people? Talking to riders is the most important thing that we do. This task involves checking the TRU voicemail and texts and responding to riders.
(Time commitment: 1 hour, weekly. Contact: org@phillytru.org / 267-313-6060)
Bus Network Redesign Service Cuts
Our op-ed on Microtransit has gotten the attention of Narberth Borough Council, after they were concerned with SEPTA’s proposals to cut the 44, the only bus through their borough and a route that moved 3,000 riders per weekday pre-pandemic. We want to continue this work by contacting other municipal governments who do not want to lose their transit service.
Research Tasks
- Research municipalities and their local officials that will see service cuts or where Microtransit is planned under either of the proposed redesign options. We have a map where you can compare the current and proposed systems (open the side bar and click the layers on and off), all you’d need to do is identify which areas will be effected and which local officials to contact in those areas.
(Time commitment: 1-4 hours, once. Contact: org@phillytru.org / 267-313-6060) - Do you or someone you know have an existing relationship with someone in a local suburban government? We’d like to be in touch with them.
(Time commitment: 5 minutes, one intro email. Contact: org@phillytru.org / 267-313-6060)
Bus Network Redesigns in Other Cities
We are studying the successes and failures of other bus redesigns around the country in order to help guide our outreach strategy. Specific examples we’ve been talking about are the Queens redesign, where activists successfully pushed for more service on what was initially a cost-neutral redesign, and Vancouver, which adopted a long-term approach of smaller scale adjustments instead of an all-at-once redesign. If you know anything on other bus redesigns, or this is something you’d be interested in doing research on, reach out to the TRU.
(Time commitment: ~1 hour, weekly. Contact: org@phillytru.org / 267-313-6060)
Regular TRU Updates
Do you keep up on transit-related news? Do you like to write? We want to keep everyone informed on what we’re planning and how everyone can get involved. If you’d like to help write these updates, get in touch.
(Time commitment: 1-2 hours, weekly. Contact: org@phillytru.org / 267-313-6060)
Exploratory Research and Communications
The continuing decline in local journalism means that transit issues sometimes go unreported. Do you like research and writing? We’d like to build up a team that can research issues we hear about from riders, dig up the facts, and either report on it ourselves or get it to a local journalist. We will train you on research tools and methods.
(Time commitment: 1-2 hours, weekly. Contact: org@phillytru.org / 267-313-6060)
Coming Up
- TRU non-profit incorporation later this Summer/Fall.
- bi-weekly TRU leadership meetings are open to all members. If you would like to attend call/text 267-313-6060 or email org@phillytru.org
- Want to join the TRU? Sign up here