Northwest Philadelphia perspective on Septa cuts
Boxall's Accommodation
http://www.chestnuthilllocal.com/topstory.html (for a limited time) or
read below:
Septa promises to cut four regional rail lines, nine bus routes
by PETE MAZZACCARO
One day earlier and people in Chestnut Hill would have believed it was
an April Fool's joke. Discontinue the R8 Chestnut Hill West? The
Pennsylvania Railroad line that created one of the first commuter
suburbs in the country? The namesake of this newspaper? You've got to
be kidding. Right?
No one, however, was laughing on April 2 when SEPTA general manager
Faye Moore announced that due to a $10 million cut in state subsidies
and $45 million increases in costs, that SEPTA was going to have to
raise fares, cut service and in some cases discontinue dozens of bus
routes and four regional rail lines.
"I am painfully aware of the hardship that reduced service and higher
fares will mean for thousands of loyal SEPTA customers throughout the
region, especially the less financially capable and people who are
dependent upon SEPTA for their mobility. But we have cut our expenses
beyond a painful level and presently have no legal alternative," said
Moore in a statement.
Damage to Northwest Philadelphia will be extensive. The promised cut
of the R8 regional rail train line has caught particular attention in
the neighborhoods of Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy and Germantown. The R8
has stations at or close to the heart of each neighborhood's economic
center.
Other local lines getting the ax include the 77 bus, which travels
from the bus loop at Germantown Avenue and Bethlehem Pike through
Jenkintown to Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, and the 35 bus,
which travels between the Andorra shopping center through Manayunk to
the Wissahickon Transfer Station at the intersection of Main Street
and Ridge Avenue.
The Chestnut Hill Business Association is on record as opposing this
move. I've spoken to leaders in Chestnut Hill and other Northwest
neighborhoods," said CHBA executive director, Suzanne Biemiller at the
association's annual meeting last week. "It is crucial we stick
together on this. We can't let this misguided proposal get in the way
of our progress."
Laurie Beck Peterson, executive director of West Mt. Airy neighbors
said that she has been in touch with local representatives, state
senator Allyson Schwartz and city councilwoman Donna Reed Miller to
meet about the proposed cuts. Biemiller will also attend the meeting.
"Obviously we're absolutely opposed to this," Beck Peterson said, "We
need to take a leadership role. "We' will ask representatives from
SEPTA to attend our meetings."
Another representative who has heard complaints about SEPTA cuts,
which will dramatically affect the entire city, is city councilman at
large Frank Rizzo.
In a letter to SEPTA also sent to the Local, Rizzo questions SEPTA's
motives in announcing staggering cuts in the face of a six percent
cut.
"Eliminating four of our regional rail lines and cutting or merging
dozens of bus routes suggests more of a political ploy to influence
our state government in Harrisburg, than sound budget practice," Rizzo
writes.
Rendell has many friends in the Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy
neighborhoods. Rizzo's chief of staff Stewart Graham said he thought
cutting the R8 was aimed at those friends.
"SEPTA has talked about discontinuing the R7 [Chestnut Hill East line]
for years," he said. "Now they want to cut the R8. You have to wonder
about what strategy was there."
Rizzo also suggested some reductions in service rather than wholesale
cuts.
"At least this would allow communities to continue to be served,"
Rizzo writes.
Fortunately for community leaders, there is substantial time to act.
The proposed SEPTA budget is supposed to be distributed to the public
this week. Public hearings on the budget will be held between May 5
and May 12 before the SEPTA board votes on the budget on June 26.
In addition to the transit cuts mentioned above, SEPTA's planned cuts
in the city of Philadelphia include: cutting the R2 Warminster, R1
Airport and R6 Cynwyd regional rail lines; discontinuing service on
bus Routes 19, 47M, 121 and the Broad-Ridge Spur; route segment
discontinuance on bus Routes C, 3, 24, 27, 31 67 and 88; and route
consolidation of bus Routes 63 and 64.
Also planned by SEPTA: the closing of nine stations (Lamokin, Angora,
Eddystone, Rydal, Delaware Valley College, Linkbelt, Eddington, Wister
and Wissinoming), the stopping of weekend R5 service beyond Lansdale
and the complete cancellation of weekend service on R8 Fox Chase.
SEPTA also proposed a rate increase. Tokens and transfers will rise by
10 cents in price. CTD passes will increase 75 cents weekly and $3.00
monthly. Zone three Regional Rail passes will increase $2.50 weekly
and $7.50 monthly. Parking fees at SEPTA lots will increase from 50
cents to one dollar.
NS
priorities are so grossly misplaced.
Here's an idea to save SEPTA money: turn off lights when natural daylight is
available! There is no need for lights to be on, wasting electricity and
wasting money, when natural daylight is available to outdoor stations and
platforms and inside offices and vehicles.
But it's pretty obvious that the lights at 1234 Market Street have been out
for a long time, given SEPTA's regressive and counter-productive FY04
Operating Budget proposal.
It's time to fire the clueless and incompetent Faye Moore.
"Boxall's Accommodation" <quin...@excite.com> wrote in message
news:775949b8.0304...@posting.google.com...
Sean
NS
"Sean" <sda...@pobox.upenn.edu> wrote in message
news:b774bc$3of5$1...@netnews.upenn.edu...
Matthew Russotto
>That would be built using all capital dollars, not operating dollars.
So they'll build it, then not run any trains on it :-)
--
Matthew T. Russotto mrus...@speakeasy.net
"Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, and moderation in pursuit
of justice is no virtue." But extreme restriction of liberty in pursuit of
a modicum of security is a very expensive vice.