Philadelphia 2035 (Norristown, Washington, Glenside: girlfriend, recommended, competitive)

[cpomp]

I think renaming large institutions after people is generally pointless.

Naming train stations and airports after the location is better, short sweet and to the point. Philadelphia International Airport, Denver International Airport, LAX, etc. Philadelphia 30th St Station is a perfect simple name.

[mslhu]

I think we're thinking about this a little too hard, guys. They'll put a plaque or something somewhere and we'll continue to call it 30th Street Station. Your local post office was probably named after someone too. I'd rather it that than some corporate branding thing.

Come to think of it, maybe Amazon Station at 30th Street isn't so bad...

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by mslhu

I think we're thinking about this a little too hard, guys. They'll put a plaque or something somewhere and we'll continue to call it 30th Street Station. Your local post office was probably named after someone too. I'd rather it that than some corporate branding thing.

Come to think of it, maybe Amazon Station at 30th Street isn't so bad...

The cost is the main issue IMO. Amtrak is struggling financially and somehow this is getting approved. I'd rather have them put this money into the Positive Train Control budget or something else...

[gwillyfromphilly]

PlanPhilly | Analysis: How SEPTA can turn Regional Rail in Philly into high-frequency rapid transit

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by gwillyfromphilly

PlanPhilly | Analysis: How SEPTA can turn Regional Rail in Philly into high-frequency rapid transit

I love it and would be THRILLED if this could happen. But it doesn't appear SEPTA is interested in this idea since they punted on it in the past. Am I wrong?

Note: I love PlanPhilly, but it really just echoes great ideas that the city ignores for the most part.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

I love it and would be THRILLED if this could happen. But it doesn't appear SEPTA is interested in this idea since they punted on it in the past. Am I wrong?

Note: I love PlanPhilly, but it really just echoes great ideas that the city ignores for the most part.

The regional rail just really isn't suited for it. Two big factors are 1) trains tend to not run through the center of neighborhoods and 2) trains aren't that fast - it takes 30 minutes to get from Broad and Lehigh (North Broad Station) to Broad and Glenwood (North Philadelphia Station) when you make the loop (if you wanted to take the CHE or CHW to NE Philadelphia, for instance, you have to sit on the train 30 minutes while it makes a giant circle around the city).

What it does good is provide fast frequent service on what it was built for and what has high ridership, and therefore frequency. Say, Market East to Glenside. Or 30th to the Mainline.

The system has been turned into enough of a frankenstien monster as it is....it's a rail road, and its focus should be on being a quality railroad.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by FamousBlueRaincoat

The regional rail just really isn't suited for it. Two big factors are 1) trains tend to not run through the center of neighborhoods and 2) trains aren't that fast - it takes 30 minutes to get from Broad and Lehigh (North Broad Station) to Broad and Glenwood (North Philadelphia Station) when you make the loop (if you wanted to take the CHE or CHW to NE Philadelphia, for instance, you have to sit on the train 30 minutes while it makes a giant circle around the city).

What it does good is provide fast frequent service on what it was built for and what has high ridership, and therefore frequency. Say, Market East to Glenside. Or 30th to the Mainline.

The system has been turned into enough of a frankenstien monster as it is....it's a rail road, and its focus should be on being a quality railroad.

Most people who ride the Broad Street and Market-Frankford lines are also going to, not through, Center City.

That it would take someone 30 minutes to get from North Philly to North Philly really matters little when it comes to maximizing the potential of Regional Rail.

Even without centrally located stations, increased frequency and fare coordination with other transit services (bringing the fares down to match those of transit and allowing transfers between RRD and transit routes) would have a dramatic impact on ridership for the better. In addition to being fully electrified, something that's not the case even in the New York region, SEPTA Regional Rail is distinctive in having an unusually dense network of closely spaced stations (and that's after a bunch of stations were closed from the 1980s onward). It could offer rapid-transit-style service even at the speeds it runs at now.

Were it possible for me to catch a train every 10 minutes at Germantown station, I'd certainly use it as an alternative to the Broad Street Line; it takes only 15 minutes for the train to get to Jefferson Station. I can walk to Germantown station in 10 minutes; it would take me 30 to walk to Olney, which is an 8-minute bus ride away.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Most people who ride the Broad Street and Market-Frankford lines are also going to, not through, Center City.

That it would take someone 30 minutes to get from North Philly to North Philly really matters little when it comes to maximizing the potential of Regional Rail.

Even without centrally located stations, increased frequency and fare coordination with other transit services (bringing the fares down to match those of transit and allowing transfers between RRD and transit routes) would have a dramatic impact on ridership for the better. In addition to being fully electrified, something that's not the case even in the New York region, SEPTA Regional Rail is distinctive in having an unusually dense network of closely spaced stations (and that's after a bunch of stations were closed from the 1980s onward). It could offer rapid-transit-style service even at the speeds it runs at now.

Were it possible for me to catch a train every 10 minutes at Germantown station, I'd certainly use it as an alternative to the Broad Street Line; it takes only 15 minutes for the train to get to Jefferson Station. I can walk to Germantown station in 10 minutes; it would take me 30 to walk to Olney, which is an 8-minute bus ride away.

I tend to agree. I hear from co-workers all the time that if they miss the train, they're 30 mins to an hour late to work. Making the commute schedule-agnostic (leave anytime and arrive efficiently) would change how people get around the city, I think.

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by FamousBlueRaincoat

The regional rail just really isn't suited for it. Two big factors are 1) trains tend to not run through the center of neighborhoods and 2) trains aren't that fast - it takes 30 minutes to get from Broad and Lehigh (North Broad Station) to Broad and Glenwood (North Philadelphia Station) when you make the loop (if you wanted to take the CHE or CHW to NE Philadelphia, for instance, you have to sit on the train 30 minutes while it makes a giant circle around the city).

What it does good is provide fast frequent service on what it was built for and what has high ridership, and therefore frequency. Say, Market East to Glenside. Or 30th to the Mainline.

The system has been turned into enough of a frankenstien monster as it is....it's a rail road, and its focus should be on being a quality railroad.

I'm surprised to hear you say this. I agree it is a Frankenstein, but mostly because it's used like a railroad everywhere. Seems we could do something similar to Germany and run shorter, frequent trains to improve rapid transit in the city where it doesn't exist. But I do agree that it should not necessarily be done all the time or on every line/station. Seems we could position ourselves to do what makes the most sense where and when it matters.

I still think this city is missing the most important changes it could make in transit by creating BRT lines across the city with real infrastructure. It's just a no-brainer to me, but it would require leadership. I'm curious to see what comes of this:

SEPTA looks to Texas for ideas for bus route redesign

[2e1m5a]

Originally Posted by FamousBlueRaincoat

The regional rail just really isn't suited for it. Two big factors are 1) trains tend to not run through the center of neighborhoods and 2) trains aren't that fast - it takes 30 minutes to get from Broad and Lehigh (North Broad Station) to Broad and Glenwood (North Philadelphia Station) when you make the loop (if you wanted to take the CHE or CHW to NE Philadelphia, for instance, you have to sit on the train 30 minutes while it makes a giant circle around the city).

What it does good is provide fast frequent service on what it was built for and what has high ridership, and therefore frequency. Say, Market East to Glenside. Or 30th to the Mainline.

The system has been turned into enough of a frankenstien monster as it is....it's a rail road, and its focus should be on being a quality railroad.

That's a true point about the trains not always running through the center of neighborhoods-but this is not the case at all stations. The R6 for instance has stations in East Falls and Manayunk right off Ridge and Main Street. The Chestnut Hill West and East lines mostly do have stations in residential areas, but they are only a few blocks from Germantown and Chew Aves. Others are much better located like the final stop in Chestnut Hill on Germantown Ave and the stations in Germantown both on Chelten Ave.


Ever since I started taking regional rail I have always wished that they would enclose the tracks, raise the platforms and run the trains much more frequently. There is tons and tons of potential-too many people (rightfully or not) do not see RR as a viable option for getting around. It does not have to just be a commuter rail-we can at least start by running trains later with more frequent service.


It seems it would be possible to make routes more efficient as well-like the waste of time from the Chestnut Hill West going to Broad and Glenwood and then all the way back West to 30th Street Station, instead of continuing SE from North Phila to Market East.