SEPTA Board Meeting
This Thursday (February 23rd), SEPTA is holding a board meeting on their Capitol Budget.
Some Highlights from the Agenda
- $124 million contract to HTNB Consultancy firm for KOP Rail Design
- $900 million to Alstom to acquire rolling stock for Trolley Modernization
- $9 million to Swell LLC Consultancy firm for Advertising and other “ridership building opportunities”
- $1.5 million to New Flyer to buy ten Hydrogen-Fueled buses to operate out of Midvale
- $30 million for new Wissahickon Transit Center
Despite it’s high costs and low ridership projections, SEPTA is noticeably continuing to spend public money on KOP Rail. KOP Rail will cost over $200,000 per projected rider. And while SEPTA is currently applying for federal funding for KOP Rail, the source of the required $1.05 billion local match is still unknown. Despite this, SEPTA officials continue to push for KOP Rail, while referring to other extensions with higher ridership projections, like the Boulevard Subway, as too expensive.
The biggest support for KOP Rail comes from the KOP Rail Coalition, a coalition of construction firms, developers and property owners based along the proposed route for KOP Rail. The coalition is led by the CEO of Brandywine Realty Trust, Jerry Sweeney, whose company owns extensive property along the KOP Rail line.
Our Talking Points
- Why is SEPTA continuing to push KOP Rail, a project with just high costs and one of the lowest ridership projections of a proposed major metro expansion in North America?
- Why is SEPTA giving $9 million to an advertising consultancy firm to improve ridership, when that money could be invested on improving cleanliness on the system?
SEPTA Bus Revolution
On January 23rd, after the City Council hearing, the SEPTA Bus Revolution Team hosted an Transit Talk (slides, recording) going over feedback they received over the fall stage of outreach. Their results parallel a lot of things we’ve already been highlighting, including that people feel safer on buses than the MFL and BSL, people don’t like adding additional transfers to their trips, and they also acknowledge the fact that schools and parents haven’t been sufficiently consulted.
The schedule for the SEPTA Bus Revolution has been adjusted, with implementation being pushed back to Winter of 2024.
Roosevelt Blvd Subway
DVRPC board is voting to launch a study on Roosevelt Blvd on Thursday, February 23rd. While the study references a BRT, a subway along the Boulevard is not mentioned, even though PennDOT previously announced that a subway extension would be studied.
If you want PennDOT to stick to their word, leave a comment on DVRPC’s site asking that clear language be included that includes planning for a subway line in future Roosevelt Blvd plans.
Articles
Advocates invite Gov. Murphy to ride a NJ Transit bus and experience what riders face
On Transit Equity Day, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a transit-advocacy group in New Jersey, called for the passage of a rider’s bill of rights. The article includes testimony from Anthony Lanzilotti, a Philly TRU member. Like Pennsylvania, New Jersey lacks dedicated transit funding, something the TSTC is fighting to change.
Some of their other asks include asking for a sufficient number of buses operating 7 days a week, clear audio and visual communication at bus stops communicating departure times and service disruptions, and modern fare collection with affordable fares.
Sign the Tri-State Transportation Campaign to Call Governor Phil Murphy to Fund NJ Transit.