RAIL POWER PROJECT MESS So much for a relatively easy time on the RRD during the Rail Power Project. This afternoon, there were reports that R2 Marcus Hook trains were terminating at University City instead of 30 St as the timetables noted, particularly #64622 (the 4:48 from Marcus Hook). It also appears that some RDG-side trains were originating and terminating at Market East instead of Suburban Station. As we speak, I'm sure someone from SEPTA is preparing a long winded statement (undoubtedly full of b.s.) denying that any information on the Rail Power Project timetables are incorrect.

SHUTTLE PLANS Shuttle buses on between Market East and 30 St are being operated by Allegheny and Midvale drivers. However, Red Arrow and Southern buses are covering the R1 Airport shuttle on Saturdays, while Allegheny drivers are covering the Sunday R1 Airport shuttles on Sunday. Already, even those shuttles haven't been off to a great start. There were some reports yesterday that operators were operating to Center City via the Arrivals lane at Philadelphia International Airport instead of the Departures lane. The assignments for the R1 shuttle is due to lower ridership to the Airport on Saturdays. Red Arrow was given some trips - over TWU objections - since some planners consider the routing similar to the 108.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES: On a related note, the destination signs on the Airport shuttle buses only read "RAIL SHUTTLE" despite the fact that there should be programmed signs to either read "R1 EASTWICK", "R1 AIRPORT", or "R1 UNIVERSITY CITY". The "RAIL SHUTTLE" reading is very confusing for those passengers waiting for these buses at Market East Station.

YOUR FARE DOLLAR$ (ALLEGEDLY) AT WORK: SEPTA Police officers seem to have no concept of "Quality of Life" issues. A very disorderly person walking along Filbert in front of Market East station and across from the Greyhound Terminal was swearing up a storm right in front of a SEPTA Police officer (either the disorderly moron was drunk or oblivious to the fact that there was a cop right in front of him). In true SEPTA fashion, the officer (#142) didn't even budge from his post nor tell this guy to shut up. On any other transit system with its own police department - at least from my observations over the years - you could guarantee that any police officer would have stopped such a disorderly person and either tell him to shut up or place him under arrest (WMATA's Metro Transit Police are among the best at enforcing their agencies rules and regulations; same with NJ Transit and the Maryland Transit Administration). Nope, not the SEPTA Police. It would appear that "enforcing the laws" and "maintaining order" is a foreign concept down here and it would be asking too much for SEPTA's police officers to do their jobs.

ZERO STARS ... AND ONE FINGER UP: SEPTA's automated travel information line seems to have a few bugs in the system (which wouldn't be unusual when you remember who we're dealing with here). Some routes have yet to be updated with the newer routings and/or departure times, while some routes are not even listed at all. For example:

• The 104 lists the departure time from New and Market in West Chester as 7:05pm, which is the scheduled time from Church St and University Av on the West Chester University campus
  
• Information on the 111 - at least the menu - still reflects the Springfield Mall via Glenolden routing which is now part of the 122
  
• Other routes - particularly the 122 and 305, along with some of the contracted routes - have no information at all; trying to get info on these lines directs you to a customer (dis-)service rep, when the Travel Information Center is actually open. When the TIC is closed, however...
  
• ...you're booted back to the main menu, which shouldn't be a problem in most cases, except that choosing certain options (ie. pressing # to access the route menus) requires hitting the specific key several times before the system gets it.

It certainly didn't help that the TIC closes at 6:00pm on weekends. The reason for the call in the first place was to attempt to complain about the 6:30pm 108 bus to 69 St Terminal that ran at 6-7 minutes early departing the Airport and passed by several irate passengers waiting at Terminal E.

COLONIAL PARK CHANGES: Starting tomorrow, southbound PM Peak trips on the 122 will only serve Colonial Park upon request to the operator when boarding. Please don't ask me what the logic of this plan is, unless Colonial Park ridership is next to nothing.