Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 07-31-2018, 07:14 AM
 
Location: Morrison, CO
34,179 posts, read 18,487,967 times
Reputation: 25763

Advertisements

I guess I just don't use SEPTA enough, as I have usually been satisfied with the Regional Rail, which is all I use. For me, it beats the Schuylkill "Expressway" when I have to go into Center City a few times a month. If I had to use it to commute daily, I may feel differently. Yes, it is inefficient, beholden to union pensions, higher than market wages, and benefits, and the plethora of big city politics, but it is no worse than many other public transit systems, at least from my admittedly limited experience.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 07-31-2018, 12:51 PM
 
192 posts, read 160,144 times
Reputation: 236
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbm537 View Post

Based on my past experience, SEPTA will get innovations like apps that give real time bus info and sell rail tickets sometime around the 24th century.

Oh, and there has been cellular service and wifi in every subway station for several years now. However, there's no signal in the tunnels between the stations...yet.
You don't have to wait that long, smarty pants, real time bus, train, and subway info on the SEPTA app is already here. And with the SEPTA keycard (where payment is tied to your bank account/credit card similar to EZPass) for most commuters and people using the system, having access to an iphone ticket isn't that important yet.

As for Cell/WiFi service - I get excellent service along the length of the BSL line (I have AT&T). And the amount of time you may be without service on the MFL is maybe 5 minutes through Center City (I've never experience a problematic blackout there either, fwiw). All of SEPTA's main stations are equipped with free public WiFi.

Sounds like you need to visit more often. Philly isn't the same place it was 40 years ago.


Last edited by PHLondoner; 07-31-2018 at 01:05 PM..
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-31-2018, 04:12 PM
 
Location: Philadelphia
2,539 posts, read 2,292,293 times
Reputation: 2696
Quote:
Originally Posted by southbound_295 View Post
You obviously don't have much of a clue. Does it make you feel important to post such drivel? I responded to a post about the commuter rail ticketing situation, not the whole system.

Do you understand that PATCO is run by the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA)? It runs 24/7.
I use to work in transportation finance for DVRPC. I am very familiar with PATCO and DRPA. (Why I stated I hope they raise bridge tolls).

I think the key rollout is disastrous for SEPTA, in large part due to the company it contracted. Awful.

I would love to see more TOD development with PATCO and an extension of the transit network. That would require raising bridge tolls, from driver's who enter Pennsylvania from New Jersey. Something I am sure will not be supported.

Last edited by rowhomecity; 07-31-2018 at 04:31 PM..
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-31-2018, 06:08 PM
 
10,787 posts, read 8,717,379 times
Reputation: 3983
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pilot1 View Post
I guess I just don't use SEPTA enough, as I have usually been satisfied with the Regional Rail, which is all I use. For me, it beats the Schuylkill "Expressway" when I have to go into Center City a few times a month. If I had to use it to commute daily, I may feel differently. Yes, it is inefficient, beholden to union pensions, higher than market wages, and benefits, and the plethora of big city politics, but it is no worse than many other public transit systems, at least from my admittedly limited experience.
The average septa bus driver makes about $25/hr. Something tells me you make a lot more than that.

But in your mind they should not be making that much and benefits are too much " socialism"
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-31-2018, 11:09 PM
 
Location: Philly, PA
385 posts, read 398,545 times
Reputation: 194
I feel like SEPTA with its problems still, does not get the admiration i think it should. There are plenty of other cities who do not have a true transit system like ours. You know how many board for different cities i visit on here and Philly is always brought into the conversation about transit service and infrastructure. Those places wish they had half the system SEPTA is. I think alot of people should be grateful that we do have a network as extensive. Could it be better ? Completely. But Funding wise....PUBLIC TRANSIT IN THE UNITED STATES IS FARRRR BEHIND COMPARED TO ASIA, AND EUROPEAN TERRITORIES. Just my $.02 cents.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-01-2018, 07:29 AM
 
5,546 posts, read 6,851,862 times
Reputation: 3826
Quote:
Originally Posted by PHLondoner View Post
You don't have to wait that long, smarty pants, real time bus, train, and subway info on the SEPTA app is already here. And with the SEPTA keycard (where payment is tied to your bank account/credit card similar to EZPass) for most commuters and people using the system, having access to an iphone ticket isn't that important yet.

As for Cell/WiFi service - I get excellent service along the length of the BSL line (I have AT&T). And the amount of time you may be without service on the MFL is maybe 5 minutes through Center City (I've never experience a problematic blackout there either, fwiw). All of SEPTA's main stations are equipped with free public WiFi.

Sounds like you need to visit more often. Philly isn't the same place it was 40 years ago.

Real time info on the subway? I haven't seen it yet. I'm looking at the app and everything is "Scheduled". No visual representation on the map and no green red indicators showing that the trip has started and is being tracked. I think they put that there and haven't hooked GPS up to the trains yet.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-01-2018, 07:36 AM
 
Location: close to home
6,203 posts, read 3,523,485 times
Reputation: 4761
Quote:
Originally Posted by kyb01 View Post
The average septa bus driver makes about $25/hr. Something tells me you make a lot more than that.

But in your mind they should not be making that much and benefits are too much " socialism"
As a frequent rider, I'm glad they make that much. They earn every penny.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-01-2018, 08:31 AM
 
746 posts, read 453,745 times
Reputation: 1201
Quote:
Originally Posted by AJNEOA View Post
Real time info on the subway? I haven't seen it yet. I'm looking at the app and everything is "Scheduled". No visual representation on the map and no green red indicators showing that the trip has started and is being tracked. I think they put that there and haven't hooked GPS up to the trains yet.
You are correct but considering the subway and El generally run on time and unless it's very, very early or late night, head ways are no more than 10 minutes, it's not particularly necessary in my view. I think having "next to arrive" type display at the station would be more useful.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-01-2018, 10:15 AM
 
Location: Morrison, CO
34,179 posts, read 18,487,967 times
Reputation: 25763
Quote:
Originally Posted by kyb01 View Post
The average septa bus driver makes about $25/hr. Something tells me you make a lot more than that.

But in your mind they should not be making that much and benefits are too much " socialism"

I am not debating the average salary of the Septa workers, but the overall cost structure. I guarantee there are more workers than necessary, and the personnel costs are way above market, especially the pension obligations. The fact is the system needs to be heavily subsidized by the tax payer. It is part of the reason we have the highest gasoline tax in the nation at $.58/gallon.


You conveniently ignored my main point that I am satisfied, for the most part, with the convenience of the system, at least as my paltry needs are concerned. Daily riders may feel differently. In general, I think public transit is an asset to any community. I just wish they were managed more like a business, and less like a political appendage.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 08-01-2018, 04:22 PM
 
10,787 posts, read 8,717,379 times
Reputation: 3983
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hannah5555 View Post
As a frequent rider, I'm glad they make that much. They earn every penny.
I completely agree with you.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram

Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:40 AM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top