So much for that shuttle on the 11. Towards the tail end of the PM peak today (from around 6:00pm to 6:25pm), I observed all of 2 buses running shuttle service in Darby Borough - an unknown NABI and Southern 3186. Considering that trolley service is supposed to run approximately every 10 to 12 minutes during the timeframe I made these observations, that tends to tell me that something isn't quite right. I would shudder to think about what would happen if this was earlier in the peak period. Additionally, because of CSX's "construction complications" at the Main Street rail crossing, buses are now running at all times - including peak periods - instead of during the mid-day. Watch SEPTA try and blame "a lack of resources" for failing to provide adequate shuttle service for passengers in Darby Borough (who seem to be treated just as badly as most riders in West Chester). Well, there is a solution... bill CSX for the added shuttle service. Hey, it's their fault that 11 trolley service is being disrupted.

As strange as this sounds, I just noticed this today when I picked up a new 99 timetable. When SEPTA restructured most of the Norristown hub routes (93, 97, 98, and 99), passengers in Phoenixville were promised 30 minute headways during peak hours. Stop me if you've heard this one, but SEPTA lied to the people of Chester County yet again. Two short-turn trips do operate beyond King of Prussia, but terminate at Egypt Rd and Brower Av, not in Phoenixville as SEPTA promised. This, along with the routing through the Oaks Mills area of Upper Providence - which will add 3 minutes to travel time from Phoenixville, Spring City, Royersford, and Pottstown - is an indication that SEPTA couldn't care less about Chester County.

This just in... SEPTA's getting sued again. This time, it's by a long-time jazz musician by the name of William Byard Lancaster, who told the Daily News that he occasionally practices his various instruments in the Suburban Station councourse. On July 26, 2001, SEPTA Police Officer F. Whitaker (that's how he was identified in the article) cited Lancaster for "excessive noise" in a complaint that was later tossed by a Philadelphia Municipal Court judge (unfortunately, it wasn't Seamus McCaffery) on First Amendment issues (plus the fact that P/O Whitaker didn't bother to show up for the hearing). Lancaster and his attorney, Paul Messing, are suing SEPTA on grounds of false arrest and violation of his First Amendment rights. Not that I'm defending musicians performing in stations, but one would've thought that SEPTA had better things to do with their police department. Next thing you know, they'll be enforcing "Fearless Leader's" recent employee dress code at 1234 Market.