The second batch of New Flyers is now on the production line at the New Flyer plant in Winnipeg. Based upon the last deliveries, it's possible that the 5500 series destined to Comly and Frankford could arrive as early as Easter. 15 more buses are tentatively slated to go to Red Arrow, which could hasten the departure of the 3117-3131 series Neos, while the remaining batch will be sent to Comly (45), Frankford (20) and Midvale (20), though the assignments have not been finalized. (Updated from February 18)...
On a related note, operators at Comly and Frankford will be trained on the New Flyers, borrowing two D40LFs from Callowhill over the next few weeks...
At least 8-10 ElDorados will eventually be shifted from Midvale to Callowhill once operator training is completed. The buses will be used on the 30, 63, and Spree. Despite it's low ridership, they will not be used on the 121, because those trips are tied in with the 44...
A demo MCI D4501 will be on SEPTA property within the next couple of weeks, once paperwork is cleared by SEPTA's world famous legal department. The demo cruisers will be used on the 104 trips to West Chester, the Sunday 120 trips to Cheyney, and on the 123, 124, and 125. Apparently, within SEPTA, there is some mixed reaction to cruisers, however, they'd be a huge improvement over hard seated Neoplans...
There's talk that the Breeze I and II buses (2001-2018) will be replaced by 27-ft cutaway buses built on either an International or Freightliner chasis. For those who don't like cutaways, we have more cutaways. In any case, the likely candidate for the first batch of new cutaways would be Germantown...
An update on the supposed Annual Service Plan changes that would have affected Delaware County. The majority of those changes are on hold indefinitely, mainly due to funding issues raised by Delaware County. The only part of the original ASP that may be implemented this summer is the 104 extension to the West Chester University campus. The rest of the proposal may not be implemented until the fall...
As speculated earlier, parts of the R and 26 will be sent to Midvale in June. It's not clear as to whether all R trips assigned to Frankford will be sent to Midvale or if some trips will be sent there...
On Saturday, SEPTA is holding an "Absolute Auction" at 4301 Wissahickon Av, Philadelphia (Midvale Depot). While the notice wasn't specific, one item listed "(44) Multi-Passenger Transport Vehicles), which were later discovered to be retired Paratransit vans, rather than older Neoplans, which are disposed of in a separate bid process.
Thursday, February 21, 2002
Sunday, February 17, 2002
ARCHIVES - 2/15/02 & 2/17/02
February 17, 2002
It appears that the 63 and 64 are no longer ineterlined, and in fact may be operating out of different depots. The 63 trips are reported to be operating exclusively out of Callowhill, while the 64 appears to be operating entirely from Southern. This may be in preparation for the arrival of the ElDorados at Callowhill...
On the shuttle bus front, the Broad Street Subway shuttle buses are being signed as "SUBWAY SHUTTLE" as opposed to "C - CITY HALL". Artics from Midvale are handling this shuttle operation...
The Market-Frankford El Shuttle between 30 St and 69 St Terminal is seeing Allegheny's artics (90x), Flyers from Callowhill (06x) and Neoplans from Southern (02x).
February 15, 2002
Route 18 is being detoured in the area of Washington Ln and Chew Av due to a water main break. The 33 is being detoured via Allegheny, Fox, and Westmoreland due to a water main break in the area near Allegheny Station (R6 Norristown)...
SEPTA isn't the only area transit operator looking for a new boss. The Newark Star-Ledger reports that NJ Transit Executive Director Jeff Warsh is reportedly on the verge of being replaced by New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey, apparently as a result of political pressure by the new administration. Warsh was named Executive Director by former Governor Christine Todd Whitman three years ago...
PATCO is also seeking a new general manager after current boss Thomas Hickey resigned. DRPA/PATCO Chief Engineer Robert Box is expected to be named new General Manager by DRPA officals. DRPA's Board had approved $22.3 million in capital improvements to the aging Lindenwold to Center City line at its January meeting, however McGreevey vetoed the proposal, along with the other elements of DRPA funding. McGreevey's veto will likely delay the rehabilitation of the PATCO High-Speed Line.
It appears that the 63 and 64 are no longer ineterlined, and in fact may be operating out of different depots. The 63 trips are reported to be operating exclusively out of Callowhill, while the 64 appears to be operating entirely from Southern. This may be in preparation for the arrival of the ElDorados at Callowhill...
On the shuttle bus front, the Broad Street Subway shuttle buses are being signed as "SUBWAY SHUTTLE" as opposed to "C - CITY HALL". Artics from Midvale are handling this shuttle operation...
The Market-Frankford El Shuttle between 30 St and 69 St Terminal is seeing Allegheny's artics (90x), Flyers from Callowhill (06x) and Neoplans from Southern (02x).
February 15, 2002
Route 18 is being detoured in the area of Washington Ln and Chew Av due to a water main break. The 33 is being detoured via Allegheny, Fox, and Westmoreland due to a water main break in the area near Allegheny Station (R6 Norristown)...
SEPTA isn't the only area transit operator looking for a new boss. The Newark Star-Ledger reports that NJ Transit Executive Director Jeff Warsh is reportedly on the verge of being replaced by New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey, apparently as a result of political pressure by the new administration. Warsh was named Executive Director by former Governor Christine Todd Whitman three years ago...
PATCO is also seeking a new general manager after current boss Thomas Hickey resigned. DRPA/PATCO Chief Engineer Robert Box is expected to be named new General Manager by DRPA officals. DRPA's Board had approved $22.3 million in capital improvements to the aging Lindenwold to Center City line at its January meeting, however McGreevey vetoed the proposal, along with the other elements of DRPA funding. McGreevey's veto will likely delay the rehabilitation of the PATCO High-Speed Line.
Thursday, February 14, 2002
ARCHIVES - 2/13/02 & 2/14/02
February 14, 2002
This morning, the SEPTA Board of Directors named Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer Faye Moore to take over as General Manager of SEPTA. Moore's three year term as GM will begin tomorrow. Moore has been treasurer of SEPTA since 1995...
A public hearing will be held on March 16 at the West Whiteland Township Municipal Building in Exton to make the Route 207/Whirl service permanent, subject to outside funding. The Whirl began last year, thanks to a $200,000 federal CMAQ grant awarded in 1995, which was matched by a $50,000 contribution from West Whiteland Township. The DVRPC awarded an additional $500,000 to continue the service until May 2004.
February 13, 2002
One of the Center City Shopping Spree full wrap buses was spotted in service on the 30 this morning. I don't know if this is a pull-in/pull-out move or if this was a mistake in assigning buses...
Some of the new block numbers are becoming somewhat clear as of this morning. Blocks on the 109 are virtually the same, but are numbered as 4xx (ie. Block 8 last schedule pick is now 408). Ohters, such as the 104, are a little more confusing. I don't think many of the drivers have gotten the hang of these new blocks just yet.
This morning, the SEPTA Board of Directors named Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer Faye Moore to take over as General Manager of SEPTA. Moore's three year term as GM will begin tomorrow. Moore has been treasurer of SEPTA since 1995...
A public hearing will be held on March 16 at the West Whiteland Township Municipal Building in Exton to make the Route 207/Whirl service permanent, subject to outside funding. The Whirl began last year, thanks to a $200,000 federal CMAQ grant awarded in 1995, which was matched by a $50,000 contribution from West Whiteland Township. The DVRPC awarded an additional $500,000 to continue the service until May 2004.
February 13, 2002
One of the Center City Shopping Spree full wrap buses was spotted in service on the 30 this morning. I don't know if this is a pull-in/pull-out move or if this was a mistake in assigning buses...
Some of the new block numbers are becoming somewhat clear as of this morning. Blocks on the 109 are virtually the same, but are numbered as 4xx (ie. Block 8 last schedule pick is now 408). Ohters, such as the 104, are a little more confusing. I don't think many of the drivers have gotten the hang of these new blocks just yet.
Tuesday, February 12, 2002
ARCHIVES - 2/12/02
The bus pictures on most of the new City Transit timetables are of 5009 at Wissahickon Loop (on layover from a 38 run), except for the 1, 2, 7, 14, 47, 54, 57, 61, 64, 68, C, G, H/XH, L, and R, which feature 5374 turning off of Market St onto 15 St as a northbound 17; the 17, 21, 37, 42, 43, 44, and 52, which sport 5427 (at Penn's Landing on the 21/42 line), and the 30, 63, 77, and 89, showing 4566 pulling into Wissahickon (as a 35, probably). The trackless timetables feature Frankford ETB 897, the subway-surface lines sport 9078, and the artic lines show 7241 at Fox Chase Loop on the 18. Why SEPTA royally mixed up the new timetables is a mystery to me...
At Red Arrow, the P&W timetable sports Norristown-bound 145 passing West Overbrook Station at Township Line Rd, Media/Sharon Hill timetables are green instead of brown (oops) and show 108 at the Orange St terminal in Media, the main lines out of 69 St Terminal (104, 108, 109, 110, and 113) show 5428; the ElDorado lines (103, 107, 111, 114, 115, 116, 118, and 305) have what looks like another view of 4550 (laying over on the 118 to Newtown Square; the September timetables showed the same bus from a different angle), and the timetables which don't sport a New Flyer (105, 112, 117/119, 120 and 123) show 5324 at Chester at a Boothwyn-bound 114. Conspicously absent from the new timetables is the "SERIOUS ABOUT CHANGE" slogan used for the past four years...
Starting with this past Monday's runs, buses out of Red Arrow have begun sporting a new block numbering sequence. Instead of starting with 1, 2, 3 (or in some cases, 51, 52, 53...), there's a confusing block numbering system similar to those used at the City depots...
Over the weekend, Allegheny 7147 - which had been damaged in an accident on the Frankford El Shuttle a few weekends ago - was back in service, spotted on Saturday operating the Market St El Shuttle (901 block)...
ElDorados are starting to show up on some West Philadelphia routes. An ElDorado was spotted at the 63 St/Malvern Av trolley loop, possibly on a training run, since ridership on the 46 far exceeds the capacity of an ElDorado.
At Red Arrow, the P&W timetable sports Norristown-bound 145 passing West Overbrook Station at Township Line Rd, Media/Sharon Hill timetables are green instead of brown (oops) and show 108 at the Orange St terminal in Media, the main lines out of 69 St Terminal (104, 108, 109, 110, and 113) show 5428; the ElDorado lines (103, 107, 111, 114, 115, 116, 118, and 305) have what looks like another view of 4550 (laying over on the 118 to Newtown Square; the September timetables showed the same bus from a different angle), and the timetables which don't sport a New Flyer (105, 112, 117/119, 120 and 123) show 5324 at Chester at a Boothwyn-bound 114. Conspicously absent from the new timetables is the "SERIOUS ABOUT CHANGE" slogan used for the past four years...
Starting with this past Monday's runs, buses out of Red Arrow have begun sporting a new block numbering sequence. Instead of starting with 1, 2, 3 (or in some cases, 51, 52, 53...), there's a confusing block numbering system similar to those used at the City depots...
Over the weekend, Allegheny 7147 - which had been damaged in an accident on the Frankford El Shuttle a few weekends ago - was back in service, spotted on Saturday operating the Market St El Shuttle (901 block)...
ElDorados are starting to show up on some West Philadelphia routes. An ElDorado was spotted at the 63 St/Malvern Av trolley loop, possibly on a training run, since ridership on the 46 far exceeds the capacity of an ElDorado.
Saturday, February 09, 2002
ARCHIVES - 2/9/02
The speculation ends on Thursday, as the SEPTA Board will hold a special to officially name Jack Leary's replacement as General Manager, two weeks after Nicholas Staffieri was appointed Interim GM. There is no word as to who the new GM is, however some have indicated that the candidate may very well be from outside SEPTA...
Lots of routing headaches are in the works in Lansdowne this weekend. Baltimore Av is closed between Lansdowne and Union Avs until 5:00am Monday morning. As a result, traffic on Lansdowne Av is most likely going to be slowed dramatically. The 109 will be detoured via Lansdowne and Stewart Aves all weekend long, due to utility crew work by Verizon. Yesterday, virtually all 109, 113, and 115 buses were several minutes late operating through Lansdowne...
Heavy traffic in Center City, particularly around the Convention Center and Mariott at 12 & Market Sts, will cause delays for all Market St bus routes, as well as southbound 23 runs. Yesterday, it appeared that the southbound C bus was detoured off Broad St onto 15 St. At around 1:00pm yesterday, buses on the 17, 33, 38, and 44 were bunching to the point where several buses were crowded by the time they reached 15 St/JFK Blvd...
SEPTA is holding a public hearing for the 203 bus on March 15 at at 1:30pm at the Sheraton Bucks County on Oxford Valley Rd in Middletown Twp. The hearing is to approve a re-routing of the 203 via N Buckstown Dr instead of S Buckstown Dr.Some more bus movements are in the works for Comly by tomorrow. A report from Comly indicated that the operators at the depot were the last ones to know about the 24 and 28 becoming part of the wheelchair accessible network.
Lots of routing headaches are in the works in Lansdowne this weekend. Baltimore Av is closed between Lansdowne and Union Avs until 5:00am Monday morning. As a result, traffic on Lansdowne Av is most likely going to be slowed dramatically. The 109 will be detoured via Lansdowne and Stewart Aves all weekend long, due to utility crew work by Verizon. Yesterday, virtually all 109, 113, and 115 buses were several minutes late operating through Lansdowne...
Heavy traffic in Center City, particularly around the Convention Center and Mariott at 12 & Market Sts, will cause delays for all Market St bus routes, as well as southbound 23 runs. Yesterday, it appeared that the southbound C bus was detoured off Broad St onto 15 St. At around 1:00pm yesterday, buses on the 17, 33, 38, and 44 were bunching to the point where several buses were crowded by the time they reached 15 St/JFK Blvd...
SEPTA is holding a public hearing for the 203 bus on March 15 at at 1:30pm at the Sheraton Bucks County on Oxford Valley Rd in Middletown Twp. The hearing is to approve a re-routing of the 203 via N Buckstown Dr instead of S Buckstown Dr.
Friday, February 08, 2002
ARCHIVES - 2/8/02
Among the major highlights of the Feburary 10/11 schedule change:
ROUTE 1: Annual addition of service to accomodate seasonal IRS employees
ROUTE 14: Weekday peak service will operate to the new Marshall's Distribution Center off of Roosevelt Blvd, including two Friday night trips from Neshaminy to Frankford operating via Halderman
ROUTE 21: Revised weekday AM peak service between Penn's Landing and 69 St Terminal, including an added trip
ROUTE 25: Revised weekday PM peak service between Pier 70 and Frankford, including an added trip
ROUTE 27: Selected AM peak trips in both directions will bypass the Metroplex center in Plymouth Twp
ROUTE 42: Revised weekday AM peak service between Penn's Landing and 61 & Pine Sts, including an added trip
ROUTE 52: Trips operating between 48 St/Parkside Av and Chester Av will now terminate at Baltimore Av
ROUTE 60: The extended service via N Delaware Av and Wheatsheaf Ln - which was previously operated by Route 73 - is now officially listed on the timetable
ROUTE 64: Added weekday peak hour service, reducing headways to approximately 15 minutes
ROUTE 73: Tioga Marine Terminal service has been discontinued, replaced by Route 60
ROUTE 100: Peak hour service will be revised to improve express service between 69 St and Bryn Mawr; during peak hours, Bryn Mawr locals will depart 69 St Terminal 2 minutes after the Norristown Express trains leave, while locals to 69 St will depart Bryn Mawr 2 minutes after the express trains
ROUTE 104: Weekday PM schedules revised between 5:00pm and 6:00pm
ROUTE 109: Additional AM service to Springfield Mall; all trips departing Chester after 6:20am and trips departing 69 St Terminal after 7:30am will operate directly into Springfield Mall
ROUTE 112: Weeknight 10:30pm Lawrence Park to 69 St Terminal trip has been eliminated
Between 7:30pm and midnight, departure times between the 104, 109, and 113 at 69 St Terminal will be coordinated to leave at 12 or 42 minutes after the hour.
Routes 35, 77, 89, 103, 107, 115, 116, 118, and 305 are officially designated as bike-routes, equipped with bike racks capable of carrying up to two bicycles.
Routes 12, 24, 28, 39, 47m, 73, 80, 103, 107, 111, 115, 116, 118, 123, and 305 are now officially part of the wheelchair-route network.
The Center City District-sponsored $1.00 fare on Route 76/Center City Shopping Spree will be in effect at least until the June schedule change.
ROUTE 1: Annual addition of service to accomodate seasonal IRS employees
ROUTE 14: Weekday peak service will operate to the new Marshall's Distribution Center off of Roosevelt Blvd, including two Friday night trips from Neshaminy to Frankford operating via Halderman
ROUTE 21: Revised weekday AM peak service between Penn's Landing and 69 St Terminal, including an added trip
ROUTE 25: Revised weekday PM peak service between Pier 70 and Frankford, including an added trip
ROUTE 27: Selected AM peak trips in both directions will bypass the Metroplex center in Plymouth Twp
ROUTE 42: Revised weekday AM peak service between Penn's Landing and 61 & Pine Sts, including an added trip
ROUTE 52: Trips operating between 48 St/Parkside Av and Chester Av will now terminate at Baltimore Av
ROUTE 60: The extended service via N Delaware Av and Wheatsheaf Ln - which was previously operated by Route 73 - is now officially listed on the timetable
ROUTE 64: Added weekday peak hour service, reducing headways to approximately 15 minutes
ROUTE 73: Tioga Marine Terminal service has been discontinued, replaced by Route 60
ROUTE 100: Peak hour service will be revised to improve express service between 69 St and Bryn Mawr; during peak hours, Bryn Mawr locals will depart 69 St Terminal 2 minutes after the Norristown Express trains leave, while locals to 69 St will depart Bryn Mawr 2 minutes after the express trains
ROUTE 104: Weekday PM schedules revised between 5:00pm and 6:00pm
ROUTE 109: Additional AM service to Springfield Mall; all trips departing Chester after 6:20am and trips departing 69 St Terminal after 7:30am will operate directly into Springfield Mall
ROUTE 112: Weeknight 10:30pm Lawrence Park to 69 St Terminal trip has been eliminated
Between 7:30pm and midnight, departure times between the 104, 109, and 113 at 69 St Terminal will be coordinated to leave at 12 or 42 minutes after the hour.
Routes 35, 77, 89, 103, 107, 115, 116, 118, and 305 are officially designated as bike-routes, equipped with bike racks capable of carrying up to two bicycles.
Routes 12, 24, 28, 39, 47m, 73, 80, 103, 107, 111, 115, 116, 118, 123, and 305 are now officially part of the wheelchair-route network.
The Center City District-sponsored $1.00 fare on Route 76/Center City Shopping Spree will be in effect at least until the June schedule change.
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