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The thing about Septa is that though it is one of the top transit systems in the country, it is far from reaching it's full potential. Septa should have a much higher ridership for a city of its size. With as much rail options as Septa has, it should be blowing out every city in the country in terms of ridership except for Chicago and New York City. Septa could easily boost ridership numbers if it were able to extend commuter rail lines into places like West Chester, Reading and Allentown.
The opening post asks which is best, which is worst. With two choices I say SEPTA is worse. The state never properly funds it compared to Boston. There are dirty stations that smell of urine on SEPTA, never encountered that on the T.
They don't smell like ****, but it's a pretty big stretch to say T stations are well maintained too. Not the worst I've seen but far from the best.
The thing about Septa is that though it is one of the top transit systems in the country, it is far from reaching it's full potential. Septa should have a much higher ridership for a city of its size. With as much rail options as Septa has, it should be blowing out every city in the country in terms of ridership except for Chicago and New York City. Septa could easily boost ridership numbers if it were able to extend commuter rail lines into places like West Chester, Reading and Allentown.
Getting off-topic but I think we will see the restoration of some of these lines (especially Reading or at least Pottstown, Quakertown, and Newtown) in the upcoming years. I think there's no other choice. SEPTA definitely can make significant strides toward re-achieving the sheer massiveness and scope its predecessor's (The Pennsylvania RR and the Reading RR) had. However, until then, we can only hope our politicians become more interested in improving our US infrastructure as opposed to fighting in unpopular wars.
The T does a much better job of covering the city of Boston. The two dinky little lines in a city of 1.5M in Philly do a pathetic job. Do you people realise that 500,000 people in NE Philadelphia have to ride two to three buses to get to the blue line. Seriously? SEPTA never bothered to expand rapid transit to that huge densely populated area. They still don't have any plans to provide rapid transit there. How bout East Falls, Manayunk and Roxborough? That whole section of the city has no rapid transit and has to rely on commuter rail. Would Boston or NYC or DC leave out such large portions of their city? I doubt it.
SEPTA is all buses with two small subway lines. Hardly world class transit. Meanwhile most other cities are expanding their rapid transit.
The T does a much better job of covering the city of Boston. The two dinky little lines in a city of 1.5M in Philly do a pathetic job. Do you people realise that 500,000 people in NE Philadelphia have to ride two to three buses to get to the blue line. Seriously? SEPTA never bothered to expand rapid transit to that huge densely populated area. They still don't have any plans to provide rapid transit there. How bout East Falls, Manayunk and Roxborough? That whole section of the city has no rapid transit and has to rely on commuter rail. Would Boston or NYC or DC leave out such large portions of their city? I doubt it.
SEPTA is all buses with two small subway lines. Hardly world class transit. Meanwhile most other cities are expanding their rapid transit.
Lol wow you are a true Philly basher who does not know what he is talking about do you?
The Northeast has little transit options because of how car oriented it is... have you ever been to the Northeast?! Also, there are plans for a light rail or subway line that will run along Roosevelt Blvd and connect with the Broad Street line.
Also, Manayunk, East Falls and Roxborough are serviced by the Norristown Line that will get you to Center City in 15 minutes... pretty impressive since that is quicker than you can get there via car.
Seriously... just stop making yourself look bad. I have proved you wrong on every comment you have made.
Lol wow you are a true Philly basher who does not know what he is talking about do you?
The Northeast has little transit options because of how car oriented it is... have you ever been to the Northeast?! Also, there are plans for a light rail or subway line that will run along Roosevelt Blvd and connect with the Broad Street line.
Also, Manayunk, East Falls and Roxborough are serviced by the Norristown Line that will get you to Center City in 15 minutes... pretty impressive since that is quicker than you can get there via car.
Seriously... just stop making yourself look bad. I have proved you wrong on every comment you have made.
The Norristown commuter rail line? Runs every half hour at rush hour and every hour after that. Hardly rapid transit. Hell will freeze over before any light rail line is built along the Blvd. Keep drinking Philly cool-aid. When is the construction start date for the light rail line to the NE?
The NE car oriented? No more or less than any other parts of the city. Yes I've been there. Row house upon row house neighborhood no diff than Boston or DC. It is very densely populated and should have rapid transit options.
The Norristown commuter rail line? Runs every half hour at rush hour and every hour after that. Hardly rapid transit. Hell will freeze over before any light rail line is built along the Blvd. Keep drinking Philly cool-aid. When is the construction start date for the light rail line to the NE?
The NE car oriented? No more or less than any other parts of the city. Yes I've been there. Row house upon row house neighborhood no diff than Boston or DC. It is very densely populated and should have rapid transit options.
Clearly you didn't see the driveway in front of every house and the suburban style big box department stores with surface parking lots out front all throughout the Northeast.
Why do you need rapid transit to the Northwest sections of the city more often than 30 minutes? Is that even Necessary?
Lastly, I guarantee the Roosevelt Blvd subway or light rail line breaks ground within 10 years.
The T does a much better job of covering the city of Boston. The two dinky little lines in a city of 1.5M in Philly do a pathetic job. Do you people realise that 500,000 people in NE Philadelphia have to ride two to three buses to get to the blue line. Seriously? SEPTA never bothered to expand rapid transit to that huge densely populated area. They still don't have any plans to provide rapid transit there. How bout East Falls, Manayunk and Roxborough? That whole section of the city has no rapid transit and has to rely on commuter rail. Would Boston or NYC or DC leave out such large portions of their city? I doubt it.
SEPTA is all buses with two small subway lines. Hardly world class transit. Meanwhile most other cities are expanding their rapid transit.
Your not considering the 8 light rail lines, or 13 commuter rail lines which do an excellent job.
There are plans to build in the Northeast. Several plans.
The Norristown commuter rail line? Runs every half hour at rush hour and every hour after that. Hardly rapid transit. Hell will freeze over before any light rail line is built along the Blvd. Keep drinking Philly cool-aid. When is the construction start date for the light rail line to the NE?
The NE car oriented? No more or less than any other parts of the city. Yes I've been there. Row house upon row house neighborhood no diff than Boston or DC. It is very densely populated and should have rapid transit options.
Row house upon row house has nothing to do whether the people who live in those homes own cars......
The Norristown Highspeed line would be considered a rapid transit line.
It uses third rail, is grade seperated, has high platforms.
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Also, there are plans for a light rail or subway line that will run along Roosevelt Blvd and connect with the Broad Street line. 
