1677 lines
74 KiB
Plaintext
1677 lines
74 KiB
Plaintext
The Delaware Valley Rail Passenger
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Electronic Edition
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March 1994
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Vol. XII, No. 3
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ISSN 1073-6859
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Published by the Delaware Valley Association of Railroad Passengers in
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the interest of continued, improved, and expanded rail service for the
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present and potential railroad and rail transit passengers of
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southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and nearby areas.
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For more information about DVARP and good rail service, please contact us:
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P.O. Box 7505, Philadelphia, PA 19101
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215-222-3373
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<73243.1224@compuserve.com> or <mmitchell@asrr.arsusda.gov>
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**Schedule change alert: Daylight time ends April 10. New timetables
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will take effect then on Amtrak and SEPTA and NJ Transit commuter
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trains, and SEPTA suburban transit.
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**NARP Region III Meeting: Sat., Apr. 16, in Wilmington
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call 302-995-6419 for information
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Inside the Delaware Valley Rail Passenger...
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@@A SEPTA Mum on Threat to Cynwyd Trains: We (Still) Await Your Reply
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@@B From the Editor's Seat: Dear Congresswoman--
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@@C DVARP Resolution on Fed Budget
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@@D Election Time is Coming: Get Involved
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@@E Still More Snow!
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@@F Storms Hit Transit in the Wallet
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@@G On the Railroad Lines...
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Old Breaker Blues
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You Have Been Warned...
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30th St. Work Underway
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New RRD Customer Center
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@@R1 Downed Wire Brings Ire
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@@R2 Put to Sleep by Slow Train?
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LumberWorks Latest
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@@R5 Bryn Mawr Rebuild OKed
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Man Arrested in Lansdale Assaults: Hey Fort Washington: Got a Light?
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Lansdale Trans. Center Proposed
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@@R6 SEPTA Sues to Stop Floods
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@@R7 Platforms Curtailed
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@@R8 Trespasser Struck
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@@H SEPTA RRD Notes
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Snow Brakes? How About Leaf Brakes?
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Order, Order!
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Focus on 'Snowbirds'
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Rails Help 'the Competition'
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@@I SEPTA Suburban Transit Division
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N5 Lease to Net $1.3 M
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New 'Pans' for Trolleys
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@@J SEPTA City Transit/Subway-Elevated Division
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Concourse Much Improved
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Alternative for DelCo Homeless Stalled
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Risky Business, Those Stairs
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New Frankford Terminal in Design Stage
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El Redecking Continues
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Single Tracking Between 30th and 52nd
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The Team that Rides Together...?
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@@K SEPTA City Transit/Light Rail Division
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Confusion in the Subway
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Trolley Coalition Tours Elmwood
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@@L SEPTA City Transit Schedule Change Highlights
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@@M SEPTA City Transit/Surface Division
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Snow Solutions Coming?
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Meritorious Service Medals
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'Biodiesel' Demonstration
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@@N Where's Route 202?
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@@O Wayne Junction: The Story That Didn't Happen
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@@P Norristown-Reading Opportunity?
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@@Q 422 "Town Center" Dead, Kulpsville Plan Alive
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@@R MontCo Grants for Community Service?
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@@S SEPTA Coalition Reawakens?
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@@T Phone Changes
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@@U Employer Trip Reduction Upheld Again
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@@V Mediator Sought in Trackage Issues
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@@W Another Term for Board Honchos
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@@X $1.7 Billion California Road Subsidy
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@@Y Grade Crosssing Crash in DelCo: 4 Dead
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@@Z Trailways Teams with Amtrak
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@@AA 30th Street in a Pickle!
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@@BB Diamond State Notes
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Snow Hits Evening Service
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@@CC South Jersey Update
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PATCO Celebrates 25th
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DVARP Committee Meets with Senator
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DVARP Ad Seeks Moorestown Support
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NJ Study: Transit is Part of the Job Plan
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NJT Ridership Stats
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@@DD How a Cynwyd Closure Would Affect 400,000 Residents
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@@EE Railroads, People Take 2nd Place in Foreign Affairs
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@@FF Countrywide 'Highway Revolt'
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@@GG Think Spring! Get Out Your Bicycle!
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@@HH Green Time- a Great Idea
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@@II Architectural and Engineering Marvel Reborn
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@@JJ GAO Says Transit Shortchanged
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@@KK Computer Corner: DVRP Now on Fidonet
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@@LL Site Set for NARP Region III Meeting
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@@MM Evening DVARP Meeting
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@@NN DVARP to Host '95 Meeting?
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@@OO Dates of Interest
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@@PP DVARP Membership/Renewal Coupon
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@@QQ Up and Down the Corridor
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Snow Cripples LIRR
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More Park in Metropark
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WMATA to Lose its 'Edge?'
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@@RR DVARP Phone & Voice-mail Directory
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@@SS Upcoming DVARP Meetings:
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Saturday, March 19, 1:00 to 4:00 Collingswood Public Library
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Thursday, April 14, 6:00 to 9:00 pm Temple University Center City
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Saturday, April 16, 10:00 am NARP Region III Meeting, Wilmington
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@@TT Agenda for the March meeting:
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@@UU Committee Meetings:
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DVARP President: Chuck Bode
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Newsletter Editor: Matthew Mitchell
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Production Manager: Tom Borawski
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for other officers and committee chairs, see page 19
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entire contents copyright (C) 1994 DVARP
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Opinions expressed in The Delaware Valley Rail Passenger are not
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necessarily those of DVARP or its members. We welcome your comments:
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call 215-222-3373
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News compiled by Matthew Mitchell and correspondents: Chuck Bode, Howard
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Bender, Tom Borawski, Betsey Clarke, John Dawson, Aron Eisenpress,
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Lucia Esther, Mimi Halpern, John Hay, Bob Machler, Don Nigro, John
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Pawson, Raymond Straub.
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Additional news from BITNET, Bicycle Coalition of the Delaware Valley,
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Delaware County Daily Times, KYW-AM, Lansdale Reporter, Newark Star-
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Ledger, the News-Gleaner, Norristown Times-Herald, Passenger Transport,
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Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Pottstown Mercury,
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USENET, Washington Post.
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The Delaware Valley Rail Passenger is a charter member of the Rail
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Online Newswire.
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@@A SEPTA Mum on Threat to Cynwyd Trains: We (Still) Await Your Reply
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by John Pawson
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Indications are that the remnant of service to Cynwyd is to become
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SEPTA's next commuter rail abandonment because of a decaying Amtrak-
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owned bridge, the condition of which is known by Amtrak but apparently
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is being ignored by SEPTA.
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The bridge now carries the outbound R6 Cynwyd trains. It crosses the
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abandoned freight yard near the abandoned 52nd Street Station in West
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Philadelphia, and is known as the "52nd Street Jumpover." This through-
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truss bridge formerly carried westbound SEPTA R5 Paoli-Parkesburg trains
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and Amtrak trains to Harrisburg and beyond, but those trains now use a
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new ground-level track.
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An Amtrak official told DVARP that rumors concerning the bridge's
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condition are true; Amtrak expects to take the span out of service:
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probably in 1994.
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DVARP therefore sent registered letters on December 6 to appropriate top
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SEPTA officials, outlining the problem and asking what action SEPTA is
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taking to maintain a suitable outbound route for the R6 Cynwyd trains.
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The obvious alternatives are repair of the bridge or construction of a
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1500 foot ground-level track on existing grade from the new westbound
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R5/Amtrak track to the present R6 track beyond the jumpover. As of
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press time [February 26], no reply has been received by DVARP.
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We can only assume the following scenario will play out sometime this
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year:
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1. Amtrak notifies SEPTA that the 52nd Street Jumpover will shortly (or
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immediately) be taken out of service.
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2. Amtrak also tells SEPTA that the operation of both outbound and
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inbound R6 Cynwyd trains via the duckunder track at 52nd Street designed
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for inbound trains was previously tried and found to be infeasible
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because of the volume of peak train traffic in the 52nd Street area.
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3. SEPTA blames Amtrak for "forcing" it to discontinue R6 Cynwyd
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service. If the Amtrak notice is urgent (recall the 1984 closure of the
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Columbia Avenue bridge), passengers may arrive at their stations unaware
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of what is happening.
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4. SEPTA officials trot out a scheme for replacing the Cynwyd commuter
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rail service with a branch of the City Transit Division's light rail
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system "at some future date." SEPTA tells commuters and on-line civic
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associations that commuter rail service cannot be restored. SEPTA asks
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their support for "fast-tracking" the trolley scheme despite the fact
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that it has been rejected in the past by the commuters and the
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communities in which they live.
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Inside: A Better Idea for R6--search for @@DD
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@@B From the Editor's Seat: Dear Congresswoman--
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I am writing this editorial to explain why the present plan to phase out
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(or substantially reduce) Federal operating support for mass transit is
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a bad idea. As long as there are young, elderly, and disabled people in
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America, America is going to need public transportation. To eliminate
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it or cut it back so far as to make it unusable is to say to these
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people that their contribution to society is not necessary.
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But while the people who cannot drive a car are the first reason transit
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exists, public transit cannot be economically viable unless it attracts
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discretionary ridership-people who choose (and let me stress the word
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"choose") to ride a train because it's convenient and they know it's
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good for their community.
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Every time someone chooses to leave the car at home, every other citizen
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benefits in many ways: Those who still drive will waste less time stuck
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in traffic-one less car will threaten the lives of our children-we all
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will have cleaner air to breathe-a little bit less of Montgomery County
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will get paved over-and we will have one less driver picking taxpayers
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pockets.
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I can't emphasize the last point enough: though uninformed people may
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think that because the states and the Federal government tax gasoline,
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there is no subsidy for cars and trucks; the facts are that every driver
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gets a huge subsidy: 40 percent by DOT figures. Our property and wage
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taxes pay for local roads, our state sales taxes pay for cleaning up
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after storms, while you just voted to spend nearly two billion Federal
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dollars on repairing 'free'ways in California, deficit spending which our
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children will be paying for in their income taxes.
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As long as we cut transit subsidies while ignoring road subsidies, the
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decisions made by both governments and by individuals will be skewed.
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The marginal cost of driving is artificially low when compared to riding
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a train, so people drive even though trains are more efficient. Local
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governments build roads instead of mass transit, because they can get up
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to nine times more Federal subsidy per local dollar by building roads.
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Does this make sense?
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I am also distressed by the proposed funding cuts because it is this
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same Federal government which has imposed numerous mandates upon transit
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operators, but not provided the means to implement them. The Americans
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with Disabilities Act was just one of the most obvious; take also the
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Clean Air Act, the recent expansion of mandatory drug and alcohol
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testing. In passing these bills, your colleagues said they would benefit
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the entire nation, but none of those purported savings found their way
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back to the transit operators who paid for your largesse. You in
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Congress also place an ever-growing burden of safety regulations on mass
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transit, adding to the costs transit operators bear; but you cave in on
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auto safety mandates even though driving is ten times more hazardous
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than taking a train.
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We are a long way from having the balanced transportation system which
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will help rather than harm our community. Ending public transit
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subsidies but not ending road subsidies is the wrong way to go.
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Your constituent,
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Matthew Mitchell
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(The editor lives in the 13th Congressional District, Pennsylvania,
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presently represented by Marjorie Margoles-Mezvinsky [D])
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@@C DVARP Resolution on Fed Budget
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At the February General Meeting, DVARP members rejected a resolution
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opposing the proposed Balanced Budget Amendment, voting instead to go on
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record that cuts in Federal spending should not further the imbalance in
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our transportation system.
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The resolution was proposed by members who feared that if the amendment
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were adopted, resulting cuts in Federal spending would disproportionally
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affect Amtrak and the nation's public transit systems, who already face
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reductions in their Federal operating support. (see cover story,
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February DVRP)
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After that resolution failed, an overwhelming majority of the members in
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attendance approved the alternative statement. DVARP President Chuck
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Bode wrote letters informing area lawmakers of the DVARP position and
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recommending that cuts needed to balance the Federal budget should
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target the insisious subsidies for highways, aviation, and waterways as
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well as rail transportation.
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ED. NOTE: The Balanced Budget Amendment failed to gain the required two-
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thirds Senate majority.
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@@D Election Time is Coming: Get Involved
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All U.S. House and some Senate seats are up for election this year,
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while Pennsylvania elects a governor, the entire house, and half its
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senators. Fields are shaping up, and the primary election is little
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more than a month away. Now is the time for DVARP members to attend
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candidate forums or otherwise contact the candidates. Ask the
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candidates their position on local and inter-city public transportation.
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Impress upon the candidates the importance of public transportation to
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your quality of life. A few dollars spent to attend a fundraiser could
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be a useful investment. And of course be sure to vote! It is much
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easier to elect pro-transit officials than to convert pro-auto officials
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after the election is over.-CB
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@@E Still More Snow!
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Another snowstorm hit the Delaware Valley February 11th, causing delays
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or annullments to many trains. SEPTA R8 Fox Chase and R6 Cynwyd and R5
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Parkesburg-Paoli service were all canceled. Amtrak once again picked up
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Coatesville and Parkesburg commuters. During the evening rush, Fox
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Chase service was restored with delays. The Gallery closed early,
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causing confusion as passengers had to use the night entrances to Market
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East.
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On Suburban Transit the Route 100 trolley was shut down while 101 was
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detoured and route 107 and 120 bus service was suspended. Many other
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suburban and city lines were on detoured or truncated routes. Elwyn
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train/bus connections were canceled.
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Amtrak reported major delays on the Northeast Corridor and one hour
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Metroliner delays. Amtrak trains were reported to be very crowded.
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DART and NJ Transit had their share of problems, but PATCO kept
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soldiering on. All in all, familiarity bred contempt, as transit's
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snowfighters did a generally good job. Through there was a lot of it,
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the snow was light and easy to move, and were were spared another ice
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storm.
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@@F Storms Hit Transit in the Wallet
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SEPTA reported last month that the severe storms this winter were a big
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contributor to bus and rail operating expenses that were three million
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dollars over budget in January, while costing almost the same amount in
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lost revenue when passengers stayed home from work and school. Federal
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and state governments are not talking about any 'disaster aid' for the
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transit systems which got essential people to their jobs.
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Speaking to the Daily News, Lisa Mancini of SEPTA's budget and planning
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office said that raising fares to close a projected deficit in 1994 is
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virtually out of the question because of the likelihood that added
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revenue would be wiped out by lost ridership.
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@@G On the Railroad Lines...
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Old Breaker Blues
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During the afternoon of January 28th, SEPTA lost all power between Zoo
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and the SEPTA phase break just south of Temple Station. All Amtrak
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train service to 30th Street was knocked out. At first, the only SEPTA
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trains running were Reading-side trains operating RailWorks-style via
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Fern Rock. Later this service was lost too.
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An attempt to shunt SEPTA power through the tunnel resulted in the
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burning of 20 feet of catenary when a pantograph bridged the SEPTA- and
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Amtrak-powered sections. The Inquirer reported that by 4:20 all service
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was restored using only two tracks in the tunnel. Problems did persist
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into the night, though. Several more trains were badly delayed.
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The power problems were repeated on January 31st, well after evening
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rush hour. Power was lost through the tunnel. One SEPTA crew source
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reports that they were asked if they spotted any smoke in the service
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disruption area just before the power was shut down. Reading-side
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passengers were again asked to assume the RailWorks position and use the
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subway/Fern Rock connection. Limited service was restored to all lines
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later in the evening.
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The 10th brought another outage that caused outrage. Interviewed on
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KYW, SEPTA Railroad AGM Jim Palmer blamed a 1930's era circuit breaker
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that tripped when Amtrak energized a train. According to Palmer, the
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circuit breaker was destroyed, causing the delay. He added that the
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breakers have taken a beating from the weather.-TB
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You Have Been Warned...
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SEPTA is considering a ban on eating and drinking on RRD trains as a way
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of reducing trash and cleanup expenses. Sensing that train crews taking
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their breaks make up a significant source of the litter problem,
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management has put them on notice that if the conditions do not improve,
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such a ban will be put in place.
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Consider this a notice to the passengers, too. If you value the
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opportunity to enjoy your breakfast on the go, or a Fisher's pretzel or
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other Reading Market delight,, make sure you don't spoil it for us all-
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keep the seats clean and take your trash with you when you get off the
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train!s
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30th St. Work Underway
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The long-delayed reconstruction of the SEPTA RRD section of Amtrak's
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30th Street Station has finally begun. Half of the suburban concourse
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has been blocked off and enclosed to allow workers to remove asbestos
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insulation without posing a health hazard to passengers. New
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escalators, improved lighting, and reopening of the fire-damaged ticket
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office are promised on conclusion of the project. Trains will run as
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usual throughout the project.
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New RRD Customer Center
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SEPTA has replaced the stationmaster's office at Suburban Station with a
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new Customer Service Office located to the west of the Amtrak and SEPTA
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ticket counters.
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The new office is more visible and welcoming to passengers who have lost
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articles on trains, are trying to find the status of their trains, or
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want to register a complaint or commendation.
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@@R1 Downed Wire Brings Ire
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On the 7th of February, during evening rush, an R2 Warminster train
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pulled down some catenary between Elkins Park and Jenkintown. Service
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was partially restored by single tracking over the inbound track.
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*More power problems struck Sunday morning the 20th, delaying trains at
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Glenside.
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*During evening rush on the 9th the Reading trunk faced half hour delays
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due to a switch failure at Wayne Junction.
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*An unconfirmed SEPTA source said that cab signals went out for a short
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time between 16th Street Junction and Temple on the morning of February
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24. Wasn't this repaired during RailWorks(R)?s
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@@R2 Put to Sleep by Slow Train?
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The Warminster line was reporting up to 20 minute delays during evening
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rush on the 17th due to police activity. A passenger slept past his
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station, jumped up, ran out of the train and fell off of the train and
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onto the platform at Willow Grove.
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LumberWorks Latest
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Those pesky passengers will have to get out of the way of SEPTA's
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contractors for daytime off-peak trains (Monday-Thursday) through March
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and Sunday trains through May 1st. Normal train service will run Easter
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Sunday, April 3. Snow and ice storms had forced LumberWorks to be
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postponed.
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*The Warminster line reported up to 30 minute delays on the 1st during
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morning rush due to signal problems.
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@@R3 *On the 29th of January at about 10 am, service south of Secane
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was suspended for a time due to an electrical problem.
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@@R5 Bryn Mawr Rebuild OKed
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The SEPTA Board approved at their February meeting a plan to reconstruct
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the switches at Bryn Mawr. The new switches will be remote-controlled
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from Paoli. The project is estimated to be completed by July 15th;
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total cost may reach $750,000 with SEPTA and Amtrak splitting the bill.
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SEPTA will receive a permanent $50,000 per year reduction in trackage
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fees.
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Man Arrested in Lansdale Assaults: Hey Fort Washington: Got a Light?
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According to the Reporter, a Hatfield Township resident was arrested
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February 1st in connection with a brutal attack on a Telford woman which
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took place near the Lansdale Station. The woman's throat and face were
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slashed in the attack by a male who took her purse. The woman was a
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passenger on SEPTA train 588. Police arrested the suspect after a four
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hour investigation. He was arraigned on charges of attempted homicide,
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aggravated assault, robbery and theft.
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Police disclosed on February 8th that they had found the attack weapon
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along with personal property of the victim. The knife was stained with
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blood and was found in weeds at the end of Linden Street.
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Whitemarsh police were investigating the suspect in a similar crime
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which took place at the Fort Washington station January 29th. A Fort
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Washington woman had her purse snatched after departing train 598 at
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12:40 am. The description of her attacker matched that in the Lansdale
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incident.
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DVARP has received complaints that the lights have been out on the
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northbound platform and parking lot at Fort Washington Station for most
|
|
of February. The lights were still out as of press time. DVARP has not
|
|
received reports of police meeting trains at Fort Washington, but
|
|
Lansdale Police have been observed meeting late-night trains.
|
|
|
|
Nothing's Perfect
|
|
|
|
The following was carried in the Reporter's anonymous "Sound Off"
|
|
column:
|
|
|
|
My husband pays an extra $10 a month to get a guaranteed reserved
|
|
parking spot at the North Wales train station. The plowing was so poor
|
|
that many of the parking spaces were covered with snow, which forced him
|
|
to park in the road on Monday. Naturally, He got a ticket. SEPTA has
|
|
agreed to reimburse him for the ticket, but every day this week he
|
|
continues to have to park in the road. I just wish there could be more
|
|
cooperation between SEPTA and the North Wales Police.
|
|
|
|
Lansdale Trans. Center Proposed
|
|
|
|
A public hearing is scheduled for March 18th at 2 pm in the Lansdale
|
|
Borough Hall regarding the Lansdale station rehabilitation project.
|
|
Parking will be increased from 192 spaces to 542, a new bus facility
|
|
will be constructed in the Conrail freight area and the soil will be
|
|
cleaned of contaminants.
|
|
|
|
DVARP has endorsed this project as a better use of earmarked Federal
|
|
funding than the proposed Gwynedd Valley Transportation Center.
|
|
|
|
@@R6 SEPTA Sues to Stop Floods
|
|
|
|
The Times Herald reports that SEPTA has filed suit against a Conshohocken
|
|
landowner who has allegedly constricted the bed of the Plymouth Creek so
|
|
that the only outlet for rain water is the R6 right-of-way. The suit
|
|
claims that between 1960 and 1968, the landowner enclosed Plymouth Creek
|
|
from the tracks to the river. It allegedly violates state environmental
|
|
regulations which state, "all stream enclosures (must) be designed to
|
|
pass a 100 year discharge without causing substantial hindrance to the
|
|
flow."-TB
|
|
|
|
@@R7 Platforms Curtailed
|
|
|
|
Due to hazardous platform conditions at several R7 stations in the
|
|
Northeast, SEPTA is asking passengers riding to Bridesburg, Wissinoming,
|
|
and Tacony to use the first two cars of the train.
|
|
|
|
*The Trenton line reported up to 40 minute rush hour delays on the 9th
|
|
due to "Amtrak problems."
|
|
|
|
*Service on the Hill East line was stopped for a short period due to a
|
|
derailment of an empty car just after morning rush the 11th.
|
|
|
|
@@R8 Trespasser Struck
|
|
|
|
The Inquirer reports that a 21 year old Rockledge woman was trespassing
|
|
on the right of way near Hasbrook and Unruh Avenues when she was struck
|
|
by a northbound SEPTA train Jan. 30. A preliminary investigation found
|
|
that the engineer had sounded his horn twice to warn the woman. It also
|
|
found that the woman had apparently tried to get out of the way, but
|
|
lost her footing.
|
|
|
|
*Service on the Fox Chase line was suspended again for a short time
|
|
after evening rush hour on the 21st. An unconfirmed report attributed
|
|
the shutdown to a natural gas leak along the line.
|
|
|
|
*Recent construction on Chestnut Hill West was taking place in the
|
|
vicinity of Carpenter.
|
|
|
|
@@H SEPTA RRD Notes
|
|
|
|
Snow Brakes? How About Leaf Brakes?
|
|
|
|
In the aftermath of the storm of the 11th and 23rd, SEPTA reportedly
|
|
ordered its engineers to use the 'snow brake' on their Silverliners.
|
|
Snow brakes maintain a continuous light application of the brake shoes
|
|
to the train's wheels, to keep snow and ice from accumulating.
|
|
|
|
Now that we know they work, can we modify the snow brakes for the
|
|
slippery rail season without overheating the wheels?s
|
|
|
|
Order, Order!
|
|
|
|
Wonder what that board with lighted numerals at the west end of 30th St.
|
|
platform C is? A scoreboard for SEPTA vs. Amtrak basketball games? No,
|
|
it is a train order indicator, similar in function to the boards at the
|
|
east end of platform A and on the Roosevelt Blvd. overpass at Wayne
|
|
Junction. When the yellow light is flashing, train engineers must stop
|
|
and see if the number of their route is posted on the board. If it is,
|
|
the engineer must not proceed until the train orders (such as speed or
|
|
crossing restrictions) are in hand.
|
|
|
|
Focus on 'Snowbirds'
|
|
|
|
A flyer handed out in late January solicited participants for a
|
|
marketing study being conducted for SEPTA. Respondents who work in
|
|
Center City and usually drive to work but took SEPTA during the snow and
|
|
ice storms were asked to meet in a focus group being conducted by
|
|
marketing consultant Porfolio Associates, Inc. The apparent object is
|
|
to find out why these people choose not to ride SEPTA trains on a daily
|
|
basis.
|
|
|
|
Rails Help 'the Competition'
|
|
|
|
Conrail and its short line partners in Pennsylvania and Upstate New York
|
|
won wide praise for expediting trainloads of road salt during January
|
|
and February.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@@I SEPTA Suburban Transit Division
|
|
|
|
N5 Lease to Net $1.3 M
|
|
|
|
SEPTA has transferred the "tax title" of the N5 cars to a Swedish firm,
|
|
Amco Financial, in a crossborder lease which will net SEPTA $1.3
|
|
million. The financier gets to write the depreciation off its taxes,
|
|
and shares the savings with SEPTA.
|
|
|
|
*Ten minute delays were reported on Route 100 between Bryn Mawr and 69th
|
|
Street during early morning rush on the 3rd. The problem was corrected
|
|
by 8 am.
|
|
|
|
*All inbound service on Route 100 was canceled during morning rush hour
|
|
on the 11th due to the storm. Later, service was reported restored with
|
|
up to 45 minute delays. At about 4 pm all service on the Route 100 line
|
|
was suspended again.
|
|
|
|
New 'Pans' for Trolleys
|
|
|
|
The SEPTA Board recently approved a contract for 35 pantographs for the
|
|
Media-Sharon Hill cars at $10,600 each.
|
|
|
|
@@J SEPTA City Transit/Subway-Elevated Division
|
|
|
|
Concourse Much Improved
|
|
|
|
The City's new policy of closing sections of the underground concourse
|
|
during the overnight hours has resulted in a cleaner, safer environment
|
|
for residents, shoppers, and workers who use the concourse. Encampments
|
|
which had posed a health hazard have been removed. Restored to its
|
|
original purpose, the concourse is making it easier and faster for
|
|
pedestrians to get around Center City, and was especially welcome when
|
|
snow and ice clogged streets and sidewalks. The process is being
|
|
repeated at Suburban Station, now closed off from 1:00 am to 4:30 am.
|
|
|
|
In a related matter, the Center City District announced the results of a
|
|
survey of homeless persons on the streets of Center City, which lent
|
|
support to its "Real Change" campaign designed to replace panhandling
|
|
with a comprehensive package of social services. 45 percent of the
|
|
persons interviewed admitted to using money given on the street to buy
|
|
drugs and/or alcohol. Other reports say as many as 80 percent of the
|
|
homeless on city streets and in transit facilities have substance abuse
|
|
problems. Three-fourths of persons surveyed had been on the streets two
|
|
years or more; almost half actually had a place to sleep with friends or
|
|
relatives.
|
|
|
|
If you support real change for the homeless, to put their lives back
|
|
together, donate to the Center City District Foundation, which supports
|
|
needed services.-MDM
|
|
|
|
Alternative for DelCo Homeless Stalled
|
|
|
|
Delaware County's planned shelter for the homeless, approved a year ago,
|
|
is mired in court. Residents of the Cobbs Creek section of
|
|
Philadelphia, across from the proposed shelter site near 63rd Street,
|
|
accuse DelCo of racially-motivated 'dumping' of the problem in their
|
|
back yard.
|
|
|
|
Risky Business, Those Stairs
|
|
|
|
The Inquirer of February 12 carried a photo of a bobsled track otherwise
|
|
known as the Erie Avenue entrance to the Broad St. Subway. The stairs
|
|
were barely visible under hard packed snow. A sour note to otherwise
|
|
good winter storm performance.
|
|
|
|
New Frankford Terminal in Design Stage
|
|
|
|
Planning and engineering personnel at SEPTA are working on the plan for
|
|
the new Bridge-Pratt terminal. Local businesspeople are objecting to
|
|
the preliminary plan, which would relocate the bus stands up Bustleton
|
|
Ave. and away from their shops. A local steering committee is to advise
|
|
SEPTA.
|
|
|
|
El Redecking Continues
|
|
|
|
The next Frankford El station to be renovated will be York-Dauphin;
|
|
SEPTA held a forum to inform residents about the upcoming construction
|
|
in their neighborhood. Evening (8:00 pm to 12:30 am) and weekend (all
|
|
day) shuttle buses will replace trains from Huntington to Bridge-Pratt.
|
|
|
|
Single Tracking Between 30th and 52nd
|
|
|
|
For the last three weekends in February, the El was single tracked on
|
|
the east-bound side. For the first weekend in March the El will single
|
|
track over the westbound side.
|
|
|
|
The Team that Rides Together...?
|
|
|
|
...didn't win this time, but at least enjoyed the trip! The University of
|
|
Pennsylvania men's basketball team rode the Broad Street Subway to their
|
|
game at Temple instead of taking a slow team bus. The 'Subway Series'
|
|
game gained a lot of publicity from the ride: Temple won 76 to 65. Take
|
|
the Subway-Surface Lines to next year's rematch.
|
|
|
|
@@K SEPTA City Transit/Light Rail Division
|
|
|
|
Confusion in the Subway
|
|
|
|
The Subway-Surface Lines operated well during January's bad weather when
|
|
many autos were off the road. But reliability steadily deteriorated as
|
|
motorists returned to the streets before all the snow and ice were gone
|
|
and got stuck-causing gaps in service of more than an hour.
|
|
|
|
A power problem affected Routes 13 and 34. Initially Route 13
|
|
passengers were advised by the electronic signs to use Route 36 and
|
|
catch a shuttle from Elmwood depot to Yeadon loop. After a couple days,
|
|
that message was replaced by one only indicating reduced service. Then
|
|
a most confusing message indicated that in the PM 3 buses were operating
|
|
on Route 34 to 30th Street and that Route 34 streetcars were operating
|
|
to 40th & Market Streets. We never found out what was meant by "PM",
|
|
where the buses were, or a streetcar to 40th & Market.
|
|
|
|
Friday and Saturday February 4 and 5, none of the information signs were
|
|
on. There were no reports of delays on KYW traffic and transit reports.
|
|
However, surprised passengers found MFSE single tracking in West
|
|
Philadelphia, with noticeable delays-enough to make passengers late for
|
|
work. The project appeared to be rescheduled trackwork. Third rail was
|
|
replaced the weekend of February 19 and 20. This time cardboard signs
|
|
were posted Friday to warn passengers. Hopefully, SEPTA will continue
|
|
to advise passengers in advance.
|
|
|
|
*A double whammy tunnel blockage/power outage played havoc with the
|
|
Green Line on the tenth. The disabled trolley was reported to have been
|
|
removed at around 11 o'clock.
|
|
|
|
*Route 13 was bussing between 49th and Yeadon because of a "street
|
|
problem" during morning rush on the 8th.
|
|
|
|
Trolley Coalition Tours Elmwood
|
|
|
|
For the January Philadelphia Trolley Coalition meeting, SEPTA provided a
|
|
tour of Elmwood Depot. Two impressions from that tour are important.
|
|
First, the depot is spotlessly clean. That indicates a safe workplace
|
|
with good morale. Second, the undersides of the Kawasaki LRVs are
|
|
completely free of rust, corrosion, and crud typically found under
|
|
streetcars after several years of service. The equipment compartment
|
|
doors fit and open properly. There was no indication of "patch up" or
|
|
"make do", all the equipment under the cars was in proper condition.
|
|
|
|
This indicates that SEPTA has been successful with its maintenance and
|
|
overhaul programs. After 13 years of service the only problem with the
|
|
LRVs appears to be some rusting of bodyside panels at floor level.-CB
|
|
|
|
@@L SEPTA City Transit Schedule Change Highlights
|
|
|
|
Continuing to realize the folly of cutting service to save money, SEPTA
|
|
increased bus and trolley service slightly in new CTD schedules issued
|
|
last month.
|
|
|
|
But the most noticeable change in SEPTA's schedules is right on the
|
|
cover of the subway-surface timetables: a picture of an LRV and the word
|
|
"Trolley" in bold print. LRD is continuing to position itself as a
|
|
premium service. On the Green Line, two-car trains operate on the 10 and
|
|
13; there are minor increases in service weekdays on 10, 11, and 34,
|
|
Saturday on 13.
|
|
|
|
On the bus side, West Philadelphia residents will also enjoy more
|
|
service on the perenially-overcrowded 21 and 42 lines and the 15. Big
|
|
improvements come with express service on the North Philadelphia's Route
|
|
48 (see below). Midday service on the 22 and 55 lines to the north
|
|
suburbs is improved to every 20 minutes. South Philly SEPTA service is
|
|
little changed from fall schedules. Seasonal increases for IRS employees
|
|
are in effect in the Northeast.
|
|
|
|
Coordination of service was the other big Northeast theme. Trips on the
|
|
19, 24, and 67 buses are spread out more evenly, while both 28 and 70
|
|
bus schedules now show connections to the R8 Fox Chase train, an
|
|
important step toward a seamless transit network. There were reductions
|
|
of service on some routes, which is to be expected as travel demand
|
|
shifts: in one noteable case, the short-turn trips will no longer
|
|
operate on the 76 Ben FrankLine in Center City. All in all though, the
|
|
trend is a good one: solving overcrowding problems before they drive
|
|
customers away from the system.
|
|
|
|
@@M SEPTA City Transit/Surface Division
|
|
|
|
Snow Solutions Coming?
|
|
|
|
Unconfirmed reports say that SEPTA is looking into permanent solutions
|
|
to the street-blockage problems which drastically curtailed service
|
|
during storms this winter.
|
|
|
|
New CTD Surface AGM George T. Hague is considering fixed snow emergency
|
|
routes, as suggested here last month, and discussions with the City of
|
|
Philadelphia about improved coordination to keep buses moving are
|
|
underway. Existing City ordinances against blocking traffic need to be
|
|
beefed up: if your bus or trolley service got stalled because some
|
|
selfish driver got his car or truck stuck, please call or write your
|
|
City Council member. Many voices are necessary to impress on Council
|
|
the need to get something done on this matter.
|
|
|
|
Meritorious Service Medals
|
|
|
|
Add SEPTA Surface Division drivers and supervisors to the list of winter
|
|
storm heros. SEPTA helped evacuate patients and staff from Parkview
|
|
Hospital in Juniata Park after a pipe burst. Another bus served as a
|
|
warm-up room for firefighters battling a blaze on Warrington Ave. in the
|
|
Southwest.
|
|
|
|
'Biodiesel' Demonstration
|
|
|
|
SEPTA tested a mixture of 80% regular #2 diesel fuel and 20% soybean oil
|
|
in its Route 76 buses last month. The fuel is purported to be cleaner-
|
|
burning than straight diesel at the same time it reduces our dependence
|
|
on foreign oil.
|
|
|
|
Live, Not Memorex(R)
|
|
|
|
SEPTA's schedule request line, 580-7777, is now answered live, 24 hours
|
|
a day, 7 days a week. The answering machine will no longer be used.
|
|
|
|
@@N Where's Route 202?
|
|
|
|
A year after the SEPTA Board awarded a contract to Krapf's Coaches, Inc.
|
|
to operate bus service from Wilmington to West Chester, the go-ahead for
|
|
that service has still not been given. The cause of the delay is not
|
|
clear, but grievances from SEPTA's unions about the contracting-out have
|
|
been rumored, even though the new service will not replace any SEPTA
|
|
drivers. Tom Hickey, from Route 202 co-sponsor Delaware Railroad
|
|
Administration, hopes service will start some time in May.
|
|
|
|
@@O Wayne Junction: The Story That Didn't Happen
|
|
by Tom Borawski
|
|
|
|
The report came over the radio: canopies at Wayne Junction had
|
|
collapsed due to the weight of the snow. Wayne Jct. passengers were
|
|
told to transfer at Fern Rock. One would assume that it was the old
|
|
wooden Reading-built structure at Wayne Junction that collapsed. The
|
|
new section, built about four years ago at a reported cost of $1
|
|
million, should be solid for another 50 years. Right?
|
|
|
|
Wrong!
|
|
|
|
In a major embarrassment, eight sections of the newly installed canopy
|
|
collapsed in the aftermath of February's snow storm. The station canopy
|
|
is configured in what can be described as an inverted Times Roman "L."
|
|
The main support column is not centered, so apparently snow build-up
|
|
caused an uneven loading. SEPTA has shored-up the remaining canopy with
|
|
wooden braces. The original structure, deteriorated as ever, is still
|
|
standing.
|
|
|
|
The following did not happen:
|
|
|
|
Four SEPTA passengers were not rushed to Temple University Hospital
|
|
after the roof fell. One passenger did not receive three broken ribs
|
|
due to the accident. Another passenger did not sustain a neck injury.
|
|
A third passenger was not pinned under the wreck for 15 minutes, and a
|
|
fourth passenger did not escape injury by jumping on the tracks,
|
|
narrowly missing a departing train.
|
|
|
|
The law firm of Dewey, Kahn, Soakham and Grabbitt, PLC did not rush one
|
|
of their radio-dispatched attorneys to the hospital. A neck brace
|
|
company in Paducah, Kentucky did not receive an overnight, rush order.
|
|
Two expert witnesses in soft tissue injury did not have their beepers
|
|
activated.
|
|
|
|
While these four riders don't exist, a red-faced engineering firm and
|
|
contractor do. They have a lot of explaining to do.
|
|
|
|
@@P Norristown-Reading Opportunity?
|
|
|
|
The Pottstown Mercury, Feb. 13, reported on a DVRPC/Montgomery County
|
|
study of reactivating the Pottsville to King of Prussia line. This
|
|
study focused on the kind of land use that would be required to make the
|
|
rail line successful. The area being studied includes Lower and West
|
|
Pottsgrove, Limerick, Lower and Upper Providence, Upper Merion,
|
|
Pottstown, Royersford, Phoenixville, and Spring City.
|
|
|
|
Later, the Mercury's editorial strongly supported restoring the line:
|
|
"...the restoration of train service between Norristown and Reading-with
|
|
stops at Phoenixville, Royersford, Pottstown, Birdsboro, and several new
|
|
stations along the way-would be the best thing to happen to the region
|
|
in decades....Trains must be part of the Pottstown area's future. The
|
|
sooner, the better."
|
|
|
|
Congressman Curt Weldon (R-7) also endorsed the service in a newsletter.
|
|
This burst of support is an opportunity members should support. Contact
|
|
elected officials to indicate support for the service. Write letters to
|
|
the editor! Talk to community groups!s
|
|
|
|
DVARP's Commuter Rail Committee will work with interested members to
|
|
coordinate activity for maximum effect. Contact the Committee at 215-
|
|
222-3373 message box 2.
|
|
|
|
@@Q 422 "Town Center" Dead, Kulpsville Plan Alive
|
|
|
|
Plans for a transportation center as the core of the Kulpsville
|
|
[Montgomery County, near Lansdale] "town center" are on track, according
|
|
to a story in the Reporter. The paper said the proposed transportation
|
|
center would be where drivers from a nearby turnpike exit would park and
|
|
take shuttle buses to their jobs or the retail district planned for the
|
|
center. The center will be built through a partnership of Towamencin
|
|
Township, the business community, and state, Federal and county
|
|
governments.
|
|
|
|
@@R MontCo Grants for Community Service?
|
|
|
|
The local bus services operated by Cheltenham and Abington townships may
|
|
be saved by a $100,000 matching grant from Montgomery County. The
|
|
services, which primarily benefit senior citizens but are open to all,
|
|
had been supported by the state legislative grants commonly known as
|
|
"Walking Around Money" as well as by state lottery proceeds subsidizing
|
|
senior riders.
|
|
|
|
@@S SEPTA Coalition Reawakens?
|
|
|
|
In a newsletter sent out last month, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Area
|
|
Coalition for Transportation (ACT) outlined plans to lobby for increased
|
|
state operating support of SEPTA. The Coalition, run from SEPTA HQ,
|
|
explained the "operating crunch" faced by SEPTA, saying a 14 percent
|
|
($32 million) increase in state and local funding will be necessary to
|
|
balance SEPTA's FY 1995 budget without fare increases or service cuts.
|
|
|
|
@@T Phone Changes
|
|
|
|
With the 610 area code now in service, SEPTA riders in the west suburbs
|
|
should check the list of 610 phone exchanges before calling their local
|
|
SEPTA station or customer service center. While most RRD stations in
|
|
the west suburbs and up the R6 line have local phones which are in the
|
|
new area code, a few like Norristown Transportation Center are in
|
|
SEPTA's 580 exchange, which will remain in 215. Overbrook station,
|
|
which is in the city, will still be 215.
|
|
|
|
@@U Employer Trip Reduction Upheld Again
|
|
|
|
State regulations forcing large employers to promote alternatives to
|
|
single-occupant car commuting for their employees have been upheld by
|
|
the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. Business seeking to
|
|
maintain the status quo of subsidizing parking while ignoring mass
|
|
transit had sought an EPA ruling denying that the Philadelphia region is
|
|
in "severe nonattainment" of air quality standards. Remarkably,
|
|
Pennsylvania Environmental Resources Secretary Arthur Davis sided with
|
|
the car proponents.
|
|
|
|
@@V Mediator Sought in Trackage Issues
|
|
|
|
With member commuter railroads experiencing problems in securing routes
|
|
over former freight lines for their passenger trains, the American
|
|
Public Transit Association has called on Congress to pass a law
|
|
authorizing the Interstate Commerce Commission or other body to resolve
|
|
disputes.
|
|
|
|
These disagreements commonly come up when and where commuter service is
|
|
to be started or expanded. While the freight carriers see commuter use
|
|
of their tracks as a potenital profit center, they can sometimes put
|
|
roadblocks in the way of that service, such as limitations on the number
|
|
of trains.
|
|
|
|
Worries about lawsuits have caused some lines, Conrail most notably, to
|
|
require full indemnification from consequences of passenger train
|
|
operation, even in cases where the freight railroad is fully responsible
|
|
for the accident. Other demands have included costly double-tracking or
|
|
new signal systems, as the railroads see a way to finally tap into
|
|
government pockets for the capital investment their highway and barge
|
|
competitors get at highly-subsidized rates.
|
|
|
|
@@W Another Term for Board Honchos
|
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SEPTA Board Chairman Thomas Hayward and Vice Chairman Patrick McCarthy
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were both reelected last month.
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@@X $1.7 Billion California Road Subsidy
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The earthquake relief bill passed by Congress includes 1.4 billion
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dollars to rebuild double-deck highways which collapsed in the
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Northridge earthquake. Another 300 million was included as a
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retroactive handout for San Francisco Bay area roads hit by the 1989
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Loma Prieta quake. Though the quake relief is being added to the deficit
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and will be paid for out of general tax revenue rather than user fees,
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nobody called this money a subsidy to cars and trucks.
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@@Y Grade Crosssing Crash in DelCo: 4 Dead
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A family of four was killed February 19, when Frank Kilgore ignored
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warning signals and drove the family car in front of a CSX freight
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train. The fatal collision ocurred at the Naaman's Creek Road crossing
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in Upper Chichester near the Delaware state line. Police reports say
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the the flashing lights were working properly, and the locomotive
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engineer rang the bell and sounded the horn as directed. The train was
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traveling within the 50 mph track speed limit.
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Local politicians have sought for PennDOT to upgrade the crossing with
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gates, paid for with Federal funds. Design work for the upgrade was to
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have been completed last fall. But county accident statistics show that
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gates are not a panacea: half of the four fatal grade crossing
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collisions in the past decade were caused by drivers going around the
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gates. Three of the four involved drivers under the influence of drugs
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or alcohol.
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@@Z Trailways Teams with Amtrak
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Philly-Pittsburgh travel flexibility has been improved by Trailways'
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acceptance of Amtrak tickets and move to the Pittsburgh Amtrak Station.
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Public transport's market share improves when riders can go even only
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one way by train.
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@@AA 30th Street in a Pickle!
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The Vlasic(R) stork was pushing pickles (free samples) at both levels at
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30th Street January 24th during evening rush hour. Neither Amtrak nor
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SEPTA nor DVARP is responsible for any consequences of their use with
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Bucks County Cafe Mocha.
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@@BB Diamond State Notes
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Snow Hits Evening Service
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DART canceled night service at 7:30 pm on the 9th due to the weather.
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The storm of the 11th caused the cancellation of DART Routes 3 and 8
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with all other routes using main roads only.
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@@CC South Jersey Update
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PATCO Celebrates 25th
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Balloons and mummery were the order of the day for passengers who
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boarded PATCO on February 15th-the line's 25 birthday. PATCO's 25th
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anniversary comes at a time when the region can appreciate its weather-
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hardened capabilities. The Inquirer quotes PATCO President Paul Drayton
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saying that it is "the best-run system in the country," and many transit
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experts nationwide agree. Watch for an upcoming DVRP story analyzing
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what's right at PATCO.
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DVARP Committee Meets with Senator
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DVARP/NJARP South Jersey Coordinator Don Nigro and DVARP South Jersey
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Committee member Bill Ritzler met with NJ State Sen. John Matheussen (R-
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4) February 17th. The Senator asked for meeting after several recent
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articles and an editorial which appeared in the Gloucester County Times.
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The atmosphere was cordial, and the Senator expressed several goals:
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1) Increasing intra-state mobility as a part of any new South Jersey
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rail expansion;
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2) A new rail line would help focus development patterns and growth in
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Gloucester County; and
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3) The implementation of any new rail service in Gloucester should be
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independent of the circumstances in Burlington County.
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Nigro and Ritzler explained the DVARP perspective. A one-seat ride into
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downtown Philadelphia is a primary goal. DVARP also presented the cost
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and ridership differential between modes as shown in the NJ Transit
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Burlington/Gloucester Corridor Assessment.
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DVARP thanks Senator Matheussen for his time and interest in rail
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transit and in DVARP's views. The Senator has been invited by William
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Haines, Chairman-NJ Senate Transportation Committee to participate in
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hearings regarding South Jersey rail transit issues. A voice in Trenton
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on behalf of Gloucester County residents is necessary if effective rail
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transportation is to occur.
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DVARP Ad Seeks Moorestown Support
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In an effort to turn the tables on opponents of rail service to
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Moorestown and Mt. Holly, the DVARP South Jersey Committee placed an ad
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in the News Weekly. Recognizing the opponents' claim that trains
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running through Moorestown would upset some neighbors, the ad reminded
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those neighbors that doing nothing, or worse yet, forcing Burlington
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County trains to terminate in Maple Shade, would mean more cars on
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Moorestown's streets. Readers could draw their own conclusion: a train
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is a much better neighbor than the hundreds of cars it replaces.
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NJ Study: Transit is Part of the Job Plan
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An urban jobs and development strategy conducted by the New Jersey DOT
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says that though mass transit to connect city residents with suburban
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jobs is an economic necessity, it must be part of a more comprehensive
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jobs package. That would include child care and training in basic job
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skills like reading and writing.
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The transit contribution would be best made with better geographic
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coverage of bus service to serve widely scatterred employment sites.
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Service hours need to be extended to meet diverse job schedules. NJ
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Transit has already started enhancing service so that residents of the
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Garden State's cities can find and keep jobs; will Pennsylvania recognize
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mass transit's role in the state's economic vitality?s
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NJT Ridership Stats
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First quarter (July-Sept) data released by NJ Transit shows a broad
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increase in bus and rail ridership, even though employment in New
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Jersey, New York City, and Philadelphia continued to decline. The
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strongest performance were put forth by the Atlantic City Rail Line,
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which had a record increase caused by extension of service to 30th St.
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South Jersey bus ridership gains were led by the commuter routes to
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Philadelphia, which even after an accounting change showed an eight
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percent increase. Our thanks to Alan Tillotson for providing the data.
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line.............ridership.... change
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(thousands)
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A.C...................187.9....+21.1%
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NE Corridor..........4567.7....+1.0%
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Coast................1579.0....+5.9%
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Raritan...............947.1....+8.9%
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Morris & Essex.......1728.0....+3.5%
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Main/Bergen...........972.9....+1.5%
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Boonton...............366.1....+2.3%
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Pascack...............307.9....+1.0%
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Rail Total..........10656.6....+3.1%
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South Jersey Bus.... 4162.1....+7.5%
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North Jersey Bus....26068.8....+5.3%
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PATCO................2738.7....-1.0%
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@@DD How a Cynwyd Closure Would Affect 400,000 Residents
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by John Pawson
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Soothsayers claim that the R6 Cynwyd service has been "winding down"
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since May 1986. That's when SEPTA abruptly cut it back to Cynwyd from
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the Ivy Ridge park-and-ride terminal which was opened just six years
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earlier.
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After all, they will say, the three stations to which the line has been
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truncated are not enough to support a commuter rail line on their own.
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The downward spiral has involved fewer stations served, therefore fewer
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people to be served, fewer trains, and (surprise!) fewer passengers on
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the surviving trains. They will probably concede that SEPTA has been
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managing the route's demise; just let events proceed to their 'logical'
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conclusion. That will get the Cynwyd line off the Railroad Division's
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budget.
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A strategic approach on the other hand, reaches an entirely different
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conclusion. That forward-looking approach involves considering the
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populations served-and not served-by the present R6 service, the
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potential traffic, and how to get the commuters most rapidly,
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comfortably, and economically to and from Center City and other
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destinations. The conclusion is that a restructuring which would serve
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serve current and past stations would give the Schuylkill Valley's
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taxpayers the best return on the dollars which they now pay to SEPTA
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through their taxes and fares.
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About 440,000 people are expected to live within the potential R6
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service area in the Schuylkill Valley by the end of the decade. This
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includes the residents of Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Chester Counties
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who live closer to existing or potential R6 stations than to stations of
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other rail lines. That number comprises about one-ninth of the total
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population which SEPTA was created to serve.
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Suprisingly, SEPTA's leading commuter rail line, Paoli-Parkesburg,
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serves fewer persons, about 310,000. On weekdays, R5-west carries about
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10,100 round trips; both sides of R6 just 1,600. Both corridors are
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about 40 miles long. R5-west carries about 3.3 percent of its tributary
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population, R6 only 0.4 percent. SEPTA's share of the Schuylkill Valley
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transportation market is much smaller than it ought to be, even
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considering socio-economic factors and the competition from the
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Schuylkill Expressway. Faster and otherwise more attractiove rail
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transportation is needed- economically and soon-in the Schuylkill Valley
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Corridor.
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The first factor that needs to be considered is the future of the two
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parallel routes which form the first eight miles of the 40-mile corridor.
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These routes are the former Pennsylvania Railroad via Cynwyd and former
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Reading via East Falls. The two converge in the Manayunk section of
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Philadelphia. The Cynwyd route-the abandonment candidate-makes the more
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desirable route between Center City and the outer Schuylkill Valley.
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Why?
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1. Other factors aside, the faster route is to be preferred. Penn
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Center to Ivy Ridge via Cynwyd was a 20 minute trip in 1983; via East
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Falls, the trip requires 23 minutes.
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2. Prompt accesss to and from Amtrak's 30th Street Station becomes an
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increasingly important market factor as the service is extended beyond
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Norristown. The route via Cynwyd is 12 minutes faster.
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3. Distance from Suburban Station to Ivy Ridge via Cynwyd is 8.4 miles;
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via East Falls, 8.7 miles.
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4. The Cynwyd route passes the edge of the City Line business district
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at Bala station; the East Falls route is much farther from it or any
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other major business district.
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5. The Cynwyd route stations at Manayunk and Ivy Ridge are safer, less
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costly to maintain, and more accessible (no climbing the 39 steps) than
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the comparable East Falls route stations.
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6. The four stations on the distinct part of the Cynwyd route serve
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30,000 people while the three distinct stations on the East Falls route
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serve just 20,000. When service on the two routes was more in balance,
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the number of passengers boarding at these stations was in similar
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proportion.
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7. The use of grade-separated junctions promotes more reliable service
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than the use of flat junctions. The Cynwyd route's 52nd Street
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connection is grade-separated; the East Falls route connection at 16th
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Street Junction is flat.
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8. If the Cynwyd route is chosen as the main route to Manayunk,
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Wissahickon Transportation Center, and the other stations on the East
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Falls route can still be served by diverting trains which now run empty
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to Roberts Yard. Under the present operating scheme, no such
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fortuitous, low-incremental-cost service is possible.
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9. The cost of repairing the concrete-arch viaduct over the Schuylkill
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(bridge 7.70) is not uniquely chargeable to the Cynwyd route, since
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SEPTA found it cheaper to repair than to tear down. It is a general
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corporate burden. Indeed, SEPTA has already received bids on the
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engineering phase of the bridge repair.
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10. The matter of retaining the outbound connection at 52nd Street is
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Amtrak's business. One condition of the Federal funding of Amtrak is
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that it supply suitable routes on its Eastern network for commuter
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trains to use.
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11. Making the Cynwyd route the dominant one facilitates a solution to
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the problem of excessive travel time and unreliability on the R8
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Chestnut Hill West line. Fewer trains and only one track on the East
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Falls route would reduce the cost of connecting the Hill West line to
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the Reading side of the system in the vicinity of R6 Allegheny and R8
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Westmoreland stations. Such a connection could speed R8 service by five
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minutes.
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To offset the eleven advantages of making the Cynwyd line the dominant
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one, there is only a complex of short-sighted attitudes to favor the
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East Falls route: "That's how the tracks go and we don't want an
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unknown, and nothing will be changed."
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Both routes definitely need capital investment for tracks, bridges,
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signals, electrification, etc. sooner or later. Each route would require
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one level of investment to maintain as a double-track railroad, a lesser
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level as a single-track line. Yearly maintenance costs would parallel
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the capital costs.
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This writer suggests, after examining seven alternatives, that the
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Cynwyd route be fully restored to double-track status and extended to
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link with the Norristown line near Shawmont station. By itself, this
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restoration would end the delays at the switch (known as "Jeff") just
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north of 52nd Street. One track of the East Falls route would remain in
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operation between 16th Street Junction and a new station platform to be
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located opposite the Manayunk West station, premitting a relatively easy
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transfer between trains of the two routes.
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Either one route or the other must become the main route. The easy, do-
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nothing alternative is to allow the Cynwyd route to be abandoned.
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Residents of Wynnefield and Bala Cynwyd will lose train service. The
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greater number of R6 passengers, those beyond Manayunk, will gain
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nothing.
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The other alternative is one of those rare, all-positive decisions in
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transportation. All stations can continue to have service. The
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majority of passengers will get a ride which is three minutes faster.
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Perhaps that's why a SEPTA staffer told this writer a few years ago that
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shifting the Norristown trains to the Cynwyd route "would pay for itself
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in a year."
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@@EE A Seat Reservation Plan for Amtrak
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by Matthew Mitchell
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One frequent cause of passenger complaints about Amtrak's Northeast
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Corridor service is overcrowding of some trains and the mad dash for
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seats at boarding time. Couples and families often find they cannot get
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seats on the train together, especially departing intermendiate points
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like Philadelphia. Giving passengers a seat reservation option would go
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a long way to solving those problems. It could also help Amtrak run
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with more efficiency and attract new riders.
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Here's one plan which could overcome most of the previously-stated
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objections to such a plan. If done right, it would pay for itself.
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Based in part on tested European practices; it would not be hard to
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implement, either in Amtrak's Arrow(TM) computer, at the ticket counter, or
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on board the trains.
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Because Amtrak's chief advantage in this market is its frequency and
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flexibility of service, Amtrak should not require reservations except as
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presently done on Metroliners. With reservations optional, only a small
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fraction of passengers would book them-the ones who find them most
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important.
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Amtrak would establish reservation lists for trains in its Arrow system,
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just as it does for medium- and long-distance trains. They could use
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the number of reservations for a given train as a preliminary indicator
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of expected ridership. That would let train consists be adjusted up or
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down to meet demand, reducing overcrowding for unreserved riders and
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saving Amtrak money.
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Passengers wishing seat reservations would pay a nominal service charge
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(say $2.00 or 3.00) at the time of reservation. This fee would be non-
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refundable, to discourage no-shows as well as recoup the cost of
|
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processing the reservation. Reservations would be accepted at ticket
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counters, travel agents, and over the phone until a few hours before the
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train departs Boston, New York, or Washington.
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____________________________________
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|Amtrak welcomes... train seat |
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| Mary D. Passenger 141 A18 |
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| PHL-WAS Mar 21 Window |
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|___________________________________|
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Depending on the number of reservations made, all or part of the first
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or last car(s) of the train would be designated as the car for reserved-
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seat passengers. A manifest of all the reservations, in seat order,
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would be printed on perforated stock at the origin station shortly
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before departure. A conductor would tear off the checks, printed with
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the passengers' names, and place them above the seats. When passengers
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board, the name tags allow them to find their seats easily. The tags
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also serve as seat checks, saving the conductor a little work in lifting
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tickets.
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@@EE Railroads, People Take 2nd Place in Foreign Affairs
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I. Free Trade, Bad Drivers?
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CRASH [Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways] reports that one result
|
|
of NAFTA has been lowering of truck safety standards. The requirement
|
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for understanding traffic signals and signs has been waived for Mexican
|
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drivers operating in the U.S. CRASH also reports that the Clinton
|
|
Administration has promised the American Trucking Association an official
|
|
role in implementing NAFTA, but will not include public safety
|
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associations. Time to contact Clinton, your Congresspersons and
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Senators.
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II. Save Venezuela, Kill Our Lungs
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Auto-Free Press tells how events seemingly far removed from
|
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transportation decisionmaking support automobiles. Three sentences from
|
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their article tell all:
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The Environmental Protection Agency is considering a request to let
|
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Venezuela ship gasoline to the U.S. that contains more of a smog-
|
|
producing chemical than American refiners are allowed to market....
|
|
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan Ambassador to the U.S. argues that the U.S.
|
|
must allow the imports under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade,
|
|
to which both countries are signatories....The State Department has
|
|
reportedly asked the EPA to interpret U.S. regulations liberally to
|
|
allow the imports in order to provide an economic boost to politically
|
|
unstable Venezuela.
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|
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While we import this obviously cheaper foreign gasoline to feed the
|
|
country's auto habit, who is going to provide an economic boost to the
|
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inner city where residents are increasingly separated from auto-
|
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accessible suburban jobs. Do Camden and North Philadelphia apply for
|
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foreign aide to get a nice subway system like the one being built in
|
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Venezuela?s -CB
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@@FF Countrywide 'Highway Revolt'
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|
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The people of Switzerland voted last month to maintain their ban on
|
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heavy trucks passing from Italy to Germany and France on Swiss roads.
|
|
Rather than harm the Swiss environment and batter the roads, trucks are
|
|
loaded onto piggyback railcars for the trip across Switzerland.
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@@GG Think Spring! Get Out Your Bicycle!
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|
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Bike-on-rail permits for most area transit systems including SEPTA are
|
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issued on a calendar year basis, so while you're renewing your DVARP
|
|
membership, make sure to renew your bike permit, too. With the permit,
|
|
riders can take bikes onto subway and commuter trains during off-peak
|
|
hours. (note that the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor line does not yet
|
|
accept bikes at any time) The permit system ensures that cyclists
|
|
understand the rules of the program, and releases the transit operator
|
|
from liability.
|
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|
|
Until bicycle advocates succeed in securing a region-wide permit system,
|
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you will need separate permits for each of these systems: call during
|
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business hours for an application.
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|
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SEPTA:............................215-580-7852
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PATCO:..............215-922-4600, 609-772-7998
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NJ Transit: Atlantic City:.......609-343-7172
|
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North Jer. Coast, Rar. Vall.:.... 201-491-7000
|
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Long Island:......................718-990-8228
|
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Metro-North:......................212-340-3000
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@@HH Green Time- a Great Idea
|
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|
|
Passenger Transport reported that Minneapolis formed "Team Transit" to
|
|
implement low cost, quick-to-do projects to improve bus operations.
|
|
They came up with 'green time,' which is a new way of allocating traffic
|
|
signal time. Time within the cycle is allocated to the number of people
|
|
moving, not the number of vehicles. A bus is counted as 40 automobiles.
|
|
Thus, streets with public transportation get more green time than the
|
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auto only cross streets.
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Green time should have wide applicability in our region, and would be a
|
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natural for "Transit First" in Philadelphia. We urge its implementation
|
|
throughout the region at intersections where one street has much less
|
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public transportation than the other.-CB
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@@II Architectural and Engineering Marvel Reborn
|
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|
|
Take the "Whistle Stop Tour" of the renovated Reading Terminal
|
|
Trainshed, the historic rail landmark now a centerpiece of the
|
|
Pennsylvania Convention Center. The Shed will be opened to the public
|
|
on Sunday, March 20: admission is free. The day will be highlighted by
|
|
a "calling contest" for SEPTA conductors and station staff, in which
|
|
entrants will be judged on speed, diction, and style as they call out
|
|
the multiethnic melange of station names: Lenni-Lenape, Welsh, German,
|
|
and many more. Also featured will be architectural and art exhibitions
|
|
and railroad memorabilia.
|
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|
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@@JJ GAO Says Transit Shortchanged
|
|
|
|
UTU News reports that a U.S. General Accounting Office report found that
|
|
mass transit is not receiving the funding it should under provisions of
|
|
the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA).
|
|
|
|
"Of the $11.2 billion in flexible highway funds obligated by states and
|
|
localities in fiscal year 1992, less than 3% ($319 million) was invested
|
|
in mass transit or nontraditional projects," the report said. "Six
|
|
months into fiscal year 1993, investment patterns remained essentially
|
|
the same, with 3% or less of flexible highway and mass transit funds
|
|
being invested in mass transit or nontraditional projects."
|
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|
|
Without concerted action by the public, business as usual, paving over
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more and more of our country, will continue.-TB
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@@KK Computer Corner: DVRP Now on Fidonet
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We are pleased to announce that the electronic edition of the Delaware
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Valley Rail Passenger can now be downloaded from any BBS participating
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in Fidonet. This will allow many computer users to take advantage of
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the quick delivery of the on-line newsletter, without a long-distance
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phone call or joining a commercial on-line service.
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To have the file sent to you, issue a "file request" command for file
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DVRP9401.LZH to net address 1:250/730. As with the other archive sites,
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substitute the desired year and month for the '9401' in the filename.
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An umcompress program will be needed to convert this to text your word
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processor can read. DVARP thanks Doug Leibold of our sister
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organization Transport 2000 Ontario for making this site available.-MDM
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@@LL Site Set for NARP Region III Meeting
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The Region III Meeting of the National Association of Railroad
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Passengers will be held Saturday, April 16, in the Wilmington City
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Council Chambers, Lewis C. Redding City-County Building, 8th and French
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Sts., in Wilmington.
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Passengers coming from Philadelphia may wish to use Amtrak to get to the
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meeting: SEPTA's R2 trains give Wilmington inconvenient arrivals of 8:14
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and 10:14 am (leave Center City at 7:25, 9:25). Return service is
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better, with trains leaving at 2:34, 4:34, 5:36, 6:34, and 8:31. The
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City-County Building is eight blocks from the Amtrak station, see the R2
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Wilmington schedule for a map. Connections are easy: all DART buses
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from the station stop at the City-County Building; ride DART in downtown
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Wilmington for free with a SEPTA TrailPass.
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Individuals who are not NARP members are welcome to attend the Region
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meeting, and to find out more about the nationwide passenger rail
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advocacy group and the activities of Delmarva Rail Passenger
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Association, NJ-ARP, Keystone ARP, and DVARP. The registration fee of
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$10.00 includes lunch. Call Doug Andrews of Delmarva RPA at 302-995-
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6419 for more information.
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@@MM Evening DVARP Meeting
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Because of the scheduling of the NARP Region III Meeting for the usual
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DVARP third Saturday, the April DVARP meeting will be held on Thursday
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night, April 14, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, at Temple University Center City.
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Make a note of it!
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@@NN DVARP to Host '95 Meeting?
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At last month's General Meeting, members agreed to have DVARP offer to
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host the next NARP Region III Meeting. If the offer is accepted, the
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meeting will take place in Philadelphia in early spring of 1995. John
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Dawson and Sharon Shneyer, DVARP members who are also NARP Region III
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Directors, along with DVARP Administrative VP Bob Machler, are
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volunteering to make the meeting arrangements.
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@@OO Dates of Interest
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"The Great Canadian Train Ride." Jenkintown Kiwanis Lecturama Series at
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the Keswick Theatre, Easton Rd. and Keswick Ave., Glenside. Tickets
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$10.00 at the door. POSTPONED due to inclement weather, call Mike
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Czerwonka, 215-886-4195 for new date and time.
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Philadelphia Trolley Coalition: Sun., Mar. 13, 1:00 at the Boyertown
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Museum of Historic Vehicles, 28 Warnick St., Boyertown, PA. Guest
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lecture on history of area trolleys. For meeting and carpool
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information, call Joel Spivak, 215-785-7717.
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SEPTA Citizen Advisory Committee: Tues., Mar. 15, 5:45 pm at SEPTA
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Board Room, 714 Market St.
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SEPTA on Site (Suburban Transit): Wed., Mar. 16, 7:30 to 9:30 am and
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3:30 to 5:30 pm at 69th St. Terminal, 7:30 to 9:30 am at Norristown
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Transportation Center.
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SEPTA Public Hearing on Proposed Lansdale Transportation Center: Fri.,
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Mar. 18, 2:00 at Lansdale Borough Hall.
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NJ Railroad and Transportation Museum "Getting on Track" Symposium:
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Sat., Mar. 19, 9:00 to 5:00 at Hall of Science Auditorium, Drew
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University, Madison NJ. Presentations on proposed museum. Registration
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$30.00, contact Bob Hooper, 4 Carriage Hill Dr., Long Valley NJ, for
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information.
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DVARP South Jersey Committee: Sat., Mar. 19, 11:00 to 12:30 at 104
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Edison Ave., Collingswood, NJ.
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DVARP General Meeting: Sat., Mar. 19, 1:00 to 4:00 at Collingswood
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Public Library.
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Reading Terminal Trainshed Reopening: Sun., Mar 20, 12:00 to 5:00 at
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Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th and Arch, Philadelphia.
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Deadline for April newsletter material: Mon., Mar. 21, to Matthew
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Mitchell or in DVARP mailbox.
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SEPTA Board Meeting: Thu., Mar. 24, 5:45 pm at SEPTA Board Room, 714
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Market St.
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DVARP Transit Committee: Thurs., Mar 31, 5:30 to 6:60 at 30th St.
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Station, Southwest arcade next to elevators and Ro and Sons Produce.
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Delmarva Rail Passenger Association: Thu., Apr. 7, 6:30 pm at
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Stationmaster's Office, Amtrak Wilmington Station. Call Ken Berg, 410-
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648-4405, for more information.
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DVARP Commuter Rail Committee: Sat., Apr. 9, 12:00 at Chestnut Gourmet,
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1121 Chestnut St., Phila.
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DVARP South Jersey Committee: Sat., Apr. 9, 10:00 to 11:30 at 104
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Edison Ave., Collingswood, NJ.
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Daylight Time begins April 10: New schedules take effect on Amtrak,
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SEPTA Regional Rail and Suburban Transit, NJ Transit Rail, and other
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operators.
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DVARP General Meeting: Thurs., Apr. 14, 6:00 to 9:00 pm at Temple
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University Center City, 1616 Walnut St. (please note that the time
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printed on the back cover last month was in error)
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NARP Region III Meeting: Sat., Apr. 16, 10:00 am, at Wilmington City
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Council Chamber, Lewis C. Redding City-County Building, 8th and French
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Sts. Registration fee of $10.00 includes lunch; guest speakers
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expected. Call Doug Andrews, 302-995-6419, for more information.
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Listings based on information provided to DVARP. Contact sponsor to
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confirm time & place.
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Call 215-222-3373, message box 3, to add your event to this calendar.
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@@PP DVARP Membership/Renewal Coupon
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Yes, I want to support improved passenger train service in our region!
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Here are my DVARP membership dues for 1994!
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Name Membership Number
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Address
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City, State, Zip
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Please choose a membership category below, enclose check and mail to:
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DVARP, PO Box 7505, Philadelphia, PA 19101
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( ) Regular: $15.00 ( ) Family: $20.00 ( ) Supporting: $25.00
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( ) Sustaining: $50.00 ( ) Patron: $75.00 ( ) Benefactor: $100.00
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( ) under 21 or over 65: $7.50
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@@QQ Up and Down the Corridor
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News of other Northeastern commuter rail and rail transit services
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Snow Cripples LIRR
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Inspector General is
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investigating Long Island Rail Road's management following the snow-
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induced shutdown of service February 11. Thousands of commuters were
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stranded by the action.
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Only a skeleton service ran over the weekend, and the effects lingered
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into Monday's rush hour, when a quarter of LIRR's 920 MU cars were still
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sidelined. The powdery snow which made shoveling easy is reported to
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have gotten up into traction motors, causing flashovers. LIRR also
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blamed its all-night running for some of the problems, but that seems
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illogical as the trains should have the effect of clearing off snow and
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ice.
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Metro-North had far fewer problems. Less than ten percent of their cars
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failed, while their bottom-contact third rail was less susceptible to
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icing than LIRR's top-contact electrification.
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More Park in Metropark
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NJT will expand parking at Metropark from 1791 to 3500 spaces in a two
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phase project. With its strategic location adjacent to the Garden State
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Parkway, Metropark is a big park-and-ride point. As reported in
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Passenger Transport, the project will begin with a seven level 2,000
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space parking garage to be located near the front of the station. The
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second phase will be 1,500 spaces on five levels in a structure east of
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phase one. To ease congestion, $4 million is to be spent improving 11
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intersections within 3/4 mile of the station.
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WMATA to Lose its 'Edge?'
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Federal ADA legislation may spell the early scrapping of the Washington
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Metro's unique platform edges. The law requires a textured edge which
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blind people can detect by feel, such as the bumpy edge now installed at
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some SEPTA stations. Ironically, WMATA installed the granite edges with
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recessed flashing lights as a means of warning deaf people when a train
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was coming. WMATA seeks an exception for its edge, citing the contrast
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between the smooth edge and the bumpy tile on the body of its platforms,
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its excellent safety record, and the $30 million cost of a refit.
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@@RR DVARP Phone & Voice-mail Directory
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__ DVARP main number (voice mail line):.... 215-222-3373
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1 Chuck Bode, President:................... 215-222-3373
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5 Tom Borawski, VP-Transportation:......... 215-552-4198
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6 Robert H. Machler, VP-Administration:.... 215-222-3373
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5 Sharon Shneyer, VP-Public Relations:..... 215-386-2644
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3 Matthew Mitchell, Newsletter Editor :.... 215-885-7448
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4 Betsey Clark, Volunteer Coordinator:..... 215-222-3373
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8 Treasurer:............................... 215-222-3373
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8 John Pawson, Commuter RR Comm.:.... 215-659-7736 (6 to 9 pm please)
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3 Transit Committee:....................... 215-222-3373
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7 Don Nigro, South Jersey Committee:....... 609-869-0020
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1 Dan Radack, Bicycle Coordinator:......... 215-232-6303
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Media Hotline (digital beeper):............. 215-552-4198
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Computer e-mail (internet):.... 73243.1224@compuserve.com
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or..........................mmitchell@asrr.arsusda.gov
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@@SS Upcoming DVARP Meetings:
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PATCO trains leave 16th & Locust Sts., Philadelphia every 11 minutes
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including 12:31, travel time to Collingswood, 14 minutes. Remember to
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purchase return trip SEPTA transfer before leaving subway station at 8th
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St. or Walnut-Locust.
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*From Collingswood PATCO, walk one block to Haddon Ave., turn left
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(towards Camden)walk three blocks to library on right, turn right at
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entry for meeting room.
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Thursday, April 14, 6:00 to 9:00 pm Temple University Center City
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please note Thursday date!
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Saturday, April 16, 10:00 am NARP Region III Meeting, Wilmington
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Saturday, May 21, 1:00 to 4:00 Ludington Library, Bryn Mawr
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location to be confirmed, please watch this space
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@@TT Agenda for the March meeting:
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1:00 Introductions, agenda, minutes
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1:10 Issues requiring immediate action
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R6 Cynwyd
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Report for NARP Region III
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2:30 Other issues
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South Jersey Committee
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Burlington/Gloucester Corridors
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Summer seashore service
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Commuter Rail Committee:
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R6 Cynwyd infrastructure
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Transit Committe:
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New SEPTA streetcars
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Autos obstructing transit routes
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Administration:
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Incorporation
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Community fairs and events
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@@UU Committee Meetings:
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South Jersey Committee: Sat., Mar. 19, 11:30 at 104 Edison Ave.,
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Collingswood, NJ
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Transit Committee: Thurs., Mar. 31, 5:30 at 30th St. Station-southeast
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arcade next to Ro's.
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Commuter Rail Committee: Sat., Apr. 9, 12:00 at Chestnut Gourmet, 1121
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Chestnut St.
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Bulk Rate
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U.S. Postage
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PAID
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Philadelphia, PA
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Permit #721
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DVARP
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P.O. Box 7505
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Philadelphia, PA 19101-7505
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Forwarding and Address Correction Requested
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Return Postage Guaranteed
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Join DVARP Today!
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Use the coupon on page 19
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First Class Mail
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