SEPTA Could Reduce Its Rate Hikes

The transportation company has proposed minor changes to its price increases.

While SEPTA is still moving forward with its strategy to increase fairs and utilize smart cards for passengers, the regional transportation company might not be increasing the cost of its rides quite as much as it once planned. According to a report in Philly.com, SEPTA is considering scaling back its raised wages, though not in a major way. A board committee will vote on the slight scale back on Thursday. Here is what’s being proposed: According to the report, the change is “designed to avoid a large price increase for airport workers.” Will changes to the rates make you more or less likely to ride SEPTA? Tell us in the comments area below.

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SEPTA Talks Safety at Malvern Station, and Everywhere Else

Safety officers and counterterrorism policemen talked to commuters at train stations Wednesday morning.

Do not underestimate the danger of a railroad. That was the underlying message of SEPTA officials who blanketed the region Wednesday, aka SEPTA Safety Awareness Day. During the morning commute hours, they met with and handed pamphlets to people using the station. Their message to the general public: Don't cross or walk along railroad tracks on foot, stick to tunnels and bridges. "Unfortunately, railroads separate neighborhoods," SEPTA Safety Officer Jim Bahn said. And to rail passengers specifically: Don't run or jump to get to the train. Don't stand too close to the tracks. Trains can run 70 mph past a station, and climb to 120 mph between stations. Sounds like commonsense advice, right? Tell that to the woman who ignored a barricade and …

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New SEPTA Pay Structure Could Limit Your Rides

As part of its movement away from tokens, the transportation company is considering capping the number of times weekly and monthly passes can be used.

SEPTA’s forthcoming New Payment Technology plans (NPT), which would move the area’s public transportation off of token-based payment and on to a smartcard system like those currently in place in New York City and Chicago, could also cap the number of rides a cardholder can take in a given month. According to a report from PlanPhilly, weekly and monthly TransPasses could be capped after 50 and 200 rides, respectively. The decision to cap the number of rides allowed per card comes as a means to limit TransPass sharing. From PlanPhilly: “There [are] probably some offices that have an office SEPTA card that they use for individuals on the staff,” he said as an example of TransPass abuse. The proposed pass limits are “quite high so that the …

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Brian A.

9:30 am on Friday, April 26, 2013

Right on, Aidan. I save $30 a month by taking SEPTA instead of driving and parking, and that is not even counting the money I would have to spend on gas or car insurance. Would probably be more like $60-70 a month. And even better, I get to read on the train every day!   more ›

SEPTA Trains Increasingly On Time, Agency Reports

Roughly 95 percent of Regional Rail trains hit the mark last month, according to SEPTA statistics.

Various improvements to SEPTA's Regional Rail system have helped trains arrive on time more often in recent weeks, agency representatives say. An article Tuesday from PlanPhilly cited a period of 99 percent efficiency at one point in March, as reported by SEPTA deputy general manager Jeff Knueppel. SEPTA director of media relations Jerri Williams told Patch that the agency hit that mark on two days in late February, which were included in the "fiscal month" of March that comprises five full weeks from Feb. 24 through March 30. The average on-time performance during that period was 95 percent, Williams said. SEPTA counts a Regional Rail train as on time if it makes its entire trip, end to end, six minutes or less behind schedule. The 95 …

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SEPTA Plans Fee Hikes, Smart Cards, Public Hearings

Several changes are set to take effect July 1 of this year and July 1, 2014.

SEPTA is planning several large-scale changes to its transit operations, including a fare increase and the implementation of a smart-card payment system, that would take effect July 1. The agency describes its plans on the SEPTA website. Some of the most noticeable effects would be as follows: The Philadelphia Inquirer reported SEPTA will conduct an internal 30-day test of the new fare system this summer, followed by another 30-day test in the fall that includes selected riders. Five public hearing dates on SEPTA's planned changes are scheduled for mid-April: Whether or not you plan to attend one (or more), please tell us in the comments section below what you think of the changes.

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How to Get to the Philadelphia Flower Show

Several city and state groups are trying to help travelers enjoy the show.

The Philadelphia Flower Show kicks off Saturday, March 2 and will run until March 10 at the Philadelphia Convention Center. If you are planning to head down to the show, here's what you need to know: If you are driving, the Philadelphia Parking Authority wants to help you out. While there are any number of public pay lots near the Convention Center, the PPA parking lot closest to the event, which will feature the lowest rates in the area according to its website, is located at 44 N 10th Street. Parking there will put you about three blocks from the convention center. The lot's rates are listed below, but you can check out more from the PPA here. Those looking for free parking are advised to check north of Callowhill Street and South of …

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Wheelchair Users Can't Board Trains in Malvern, Despite Ramps

How can a person in a wheelchair get onto the train? They can't, SEPTA said.

A Malvern Patch reader who watched the $9.2 million renovation of the Malvern SEPTA station has been wondering something. Rob Anderson, a daily rail commuter for more than 12 years, writes: We reached out to SEPTA, and spokesperson Kristin Geiger explained that there's currently no way for someone in a wheelchair to board the train in Malvern, despite the many new ramps. They can, however, request free transportation from Malvern to a nearby station with a high-level platform.   High-level platforms will be installed in Malvern someday, when the funding is available, Geiger said. The full SEPTA response is below:  

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SEPTA Likes Plan to Raze North Valley Bridge

SEPTA likes a proposal for the Paoli Transportation Center that would demolish one bridge and build a new one in Paoli.

Editor's note:  This is a preliminary plan and its selection is part of a three-stage process that was first announced last spring. There are several major components to the Paoli Transportation Center development plan. First, SEPTA, AMTRAK and Tredyffrin Township (acting as the agent for PennDOT) are making preliminary selections of plans for a new SEPTA Station, AMTRAK train lines and changing existing traffic patterns on Lancaster Ave/Route 30 between 252 and Paoli Hospital. Next, those preliminary plans will be presented to the public for comments and opinions. In the third stage, the plans that the public approves will be finalized and the design and construction phase will follow. What follows is a news release from SEPTA announcing …

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Kristin Thomas

4:33 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013

Looking at all 3 plans, the one chosen makes the least sense to me. I see the other two plans made use of the empty land I mentioned in my comment above. But I suppose if this is what the community chose and is the most affordable and useful....   more ›

Second Malvern Mural to be Visible From Train

The Malvern Pizza mural project has been progressing so well, organizers decided to take on a second mural near the SEPTA station.

Is Your Train Late?

You can now find out if your SEPTA train is on time with a phone call, text or website.

  Two new sites will help commuters determine if their SEPTA train is one time or not. Baldwin is a website optimized for a smartphone. It’s not an app that you download. Bookmark on your phone so you don’t forget it when you need it. All you need to do is put in the station where you want to get on and where you want to get off and it will tell you the next trains going between those stations, their departure and arrival time and whether they are on time. The website URL is baldwin.ph. Note: if you’re going to or from Wayne in Radnor Township, choose Wayne Station, not Wayne Jct. SEPTAlking provides regional rail status updates with a phone call or text message at 215-987-5418. Both sites are part of SEPTA’s outreach campaign and will be …

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