Rooting for SEPTA

Two Drexel University freshmen's take on Philadelphia's very much criticized and underrated public transportation system. We want to change they way you look at SEPTA, Philadelphia. Take a look and learn about all of the improvements that are being made and have been made already.

[rootingforsepta]

The Future of SEPTA

As SEPTA riders ourselves, we are very excited to watch these improvements be implemented to Philadelphia's public transportation system. While we are both content with SEPTA as it currently is, we are excited to see the public transportation company of Philadelphia expand and grow in the future.

[rootingforsepta]

SEPTA Extending Media/ Elwyn Line

Due to increased funding, the SEPTA Media/Elwyn rail line will now be extending an additional three miles to Wawa, Pennsylvania (Levy). The extension is expected to serve an additional five hundred commuters each weekday (Levy). Although SEPTA already owns track out to Wawa, it has not been used in over thirty years (Levy). The project will involve the construction of a second rail track as well as new bridges, improvements to the line, and a large new station with a parking garage in Wawa (Levy).

This extension is a step in the right direction for SEPTA, and will improve the simplicity of commute for thousands of riders each month.

[rootingforsepta]

SEPTA New Payment Technology

Over the next three years, SEPTA plans to implement a new method of paying fares. A new payment method is long overdue for SEPTA, who still uses tokens and exact change as forms of payment. SEPTA plans to replace their current fare system with a new "smart" system, known as NPT, or New Payment Technology (SEPTA). The new method of fare payment will include all subways, buses, trolleys, Regional Rail and CCT vehicles (SEPTA). The new payment system offers riders a variety of payment options, including cash and refillable cards (SEPTA). The NPT project is expected to be completed by 2015.

This payment will more resemble New York City's MTA fare payment plan, which uses the refillable metrocard. SEPTA's various or lack thereof forms of payment has been the source of countless criticisms and complaints for a long period of time. This change of payment is a huge step forward for SEPTA, and is sure to improve overall customer satisfaction when the plan is finally implemented.

Check out SEPTA's NPT Page: http://www.septa.org/fares/npt/

[rootingforsepta]

SEPTA Budget Improvement Plans

[rootingforsepta]

SEPTA Budget Plans for the Future

Budgeting and money has proven to be a problem for SEPTA for an extensive amount of years. Questions such as where to get the money and what exactly to use it on has caused countless instances of criticism and controversy.

It seems like SEPTA budget problems are finally trying to be solved. This past December, SEPTA officials met for a board meeting, outlining a five to ten year capital plan that will cause many improvements and renovations to happen to public transit in Philadelphia that are very much needed (Gambacorta). At the meeting, the agency approved a 1.28 billion dollar budget for the 2014 fiscal year (Gambacorta). The plan calls for a major overhaul of vehicles, featuring new train trolleys, and Silverliner railcars (Gambacorta). Bridge timbers will also be replaced on several viaducts on the Media/Elwyn Regional Rail Line (Gambacorta). Accessibility is planned to be improved to subway stops on the Broad Street line at the Erie, Snyder and Susquehanna-Dauphin stations, as well as the Market-Frankford line's Margaret-Orthodox and 40th Street stations (Gambacorta). Repairs and makeovers are also planned to be given to multiple concourses (Gambacorta).

One particular station with hopeful renovation plans in City Hall Station. City Hall Station has not been renovated since the 1920's, and is in dire need of upgrades and improvements (Gambacorta).

Many of these projects are slated to begin in the summer of this year, hopefully giving SEPTA a facelift that has been much needed for a long time.

[rootingforsepta]

SEPTA Working to Stop Human Trafficking in Philly

This past January, SEPTA police chief Thomas Nestel held a conference at 69th Street Station to raise awareness and discuss warning signs of human trafficking (Redfern). Nestel was joined by representatives from local social service agencies and a former human trafficking victim. Under the Pennsylvania Act 197, places such as bus and train stations are required to post the national trafficking hotline phone number (Redfern). At the conference, Nestel announced ""We are asking the public and our employees to keep an eye out for pimps who appear to be preying on vulnerable young women at our transportation hubs or in the neighborhoods around our stations," “We are looking for runaways, for vulnerable young woman who might be hanging out at transit stations, seemingly out of place. Posting the hotline number, in addition to the training our officers have received should make a difference in getting victims the assistance they need and stopping these heinous crimes.” (Redfern). The SEPTA police department works closely with the PATC, or Philadelphia Anti- Trafficking Coalition in order to train their officers how to spot and prevent human trafficking in SEPTA stations (Redfern).

SEPTA's efforts to not only stop human trafficking in Philadelphia but also increase sustainability in the city exemplify how important the company is in making our city a better and safer place. SEPTA is more than a public transportation company; it is a source of betterment for our community.

[rootingforsepta]

SEPTA and Sustainability

Many Philadelphians also fail to recognize the steps SEPTA has taken in order to improve sustainability in our city. Not only is SEPTA one of the few transportation companies with hybrid buses, but they were also the first ones in the country to build a certified LEED silver train station at Fox Chase (Lind). The Fox Chase Regional Rail Station, rebuilt in 2011, earned the LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (SEPTA). SEPTA's general manager Joseph Casey made a statement after receiving the certification, saying ""This classification exemplifies SEPTA's commitment to environmental responsibility and demonstrates how 'green' public transportation can be," "We are proud of the hard work and dedication of our engineering team to ensure that SEPTA achieved this certification." (SEPTA).

In order to achieve LEED Silver status, SEPTA incorporated countless eco-friendly processes when building and designing (SEPTA). Processes included recycling construction waste materials, using low-pollutant emitting building materials, and purchasing energy from a local green energy supplier (SEPTA). The station is also entirely smoke free, features parking spaces for energy efficient vehicles, and also contains a multitude of bins for recycling (SEPTA).

SEPTA has a unique sustainability program, entitled "SEP-Tainable: The Route to Regional Sustainability". The program's mission statement is "Our employees are dedicated to delivering safe, courteous, convenient and dependable public transit services for the people of our region. We contribute to the region's economic vitality, sustainability and enhanced quality of life." (SEPTA). Although SEPTA may have a few shortcomings, the company is way ahead in terms of sustainability practices.

Check out SEPTA's Sustainability Website:  http://www.septa.org/sustain/program.html

[rootingforsepta]

SEPTA Wins Best Transit Award

Many Philadelphians may be surprised to learn that SEPTA won the award for best large transit agency in North America in 2012. The award was bestowed upon SEPTA by the APTA, or the American Public Transportation Association. The president of the APTA, Michael Melaniphy, explained that SEPTA's financial management, dedication to sustainability, and increased ridership earned them the award (Lind).

I was completely unaware and surprised when I learned that SEPTA received this award one year ago, and so were many of my friends and peers when I mentioned it to them. SEPTA gets such a bad rap, and Philadelphians often fail to recognize the success the company has been having over the past decade.

[rootingforsepta]

SEPTA Creates New SmartPhone App

"The official SEPTA app takes the real-time tools you find on the septa.org website and makes them available right at your fingertips on your iPhone. Our app brings the entire SEPTA transit network directly to you, wherever you are, whenever you want to travel." (SEPTA)

This past January, SEPTA released a new app that features updated transit schedules for riders. The app features schedules of seven different service lines, and is free and easy to use. SEPTA is most certainly taking a step in the right direction by moving into the twenty-first century with a mobile phone application. It is now easier for riders to catch transportation on time, and get to where they are going.

[rootingforsepta]

SEPTA is Considering Restoring Late-Night Subway Service

One major problem with SEPTA is their lack of late-night subway transportation. Subways in Philadelphia stop running at midnight, and in result cause inconveniences for countless public transportation riders. The solution to this problem seems so simple: resume late-night transportation. What many people fail to realize, however, is the amount of money SEPTA would need to budget in order to have twenty-four hour subway transportation. Philadelphians also fail to remember that SEPTA once had twenty-four hour subway transportation in the 1990's, but was forced to end overnight service because of budgets and a low customer base (Jacobs). With a rider base higher now than it has been in the past, SEPTA officials are finally looking into resuming overnight subway service. New York's MTA transportation system has been offering late night subway service for years, putting New York City transportation above Philadelphia. If Philly were to resume overnight subway transit, the reputation and popularity of the system would surely go up.

[rootingforsepta]

Blog Introduction

Philadelphia's public transportation system SEPTA, or the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, has been the subject of countless criticisms and controversies over the past decade. With issues like employee strikes, outdated machinery, and countless budget cuts, SEPTA has lost the support of the majority of it's rider base. What people fail to notice or realize, however, is that over the past decade, SEPTA has been taking many steps forward in order to improve despite the company's occasional minor setbacks. Philadelphians unfortunately choose to notice SEPTA's shortcomings rather than the good things the company is continuing to do for the community and the improvements they continue to make each year.

SEPTA is so much more than a public transportation company. It helps our community of Philadelphia in countless ways that we often fail to recognize. SEPTA promotes sustainability and human rights, in most cases more efficiently than other city public transportation companies.

This blog has been made with the intention of celebrating SEPTA's positive qualities and highlighting their achievements and improvements. Our hope is that by pointing out some of the positive things SEPTA has done, we can raise Philadelphia's appreciation for the public transportation company. SEPTA has been discriminated for far too long by Philadelphians, and it is time that we as a community come together to recognize what a great public transit company we possess. SEPTA discrimination is a problem that needs to be addressed.

While SEPTA still has a long way to go, they are taking steps to improve each year. As their slogan says, "We're getting there". SEPTA may not be as pleasing as New York City's MTA public transit system, but Philadelphians should also take into account the size of New York City versus Philadelphia. New York's MTA may be a few steps ahead of SEPTA, but our public transit system is most certainly working to get to the same level of quality and customer satisfaction.

Over the next five years, SEPTA has some big improvements planned. The hope of this blog is to make Philadelphians aware that these improvements are in fact happening, and that even SEPTA in it's present day condition is a public transit company to be awed at and appreciated.