Greater Philadelphia Bicycle News

SEPTA Proposes major service cuts
Due to a shortfall generated by an inexperienced governor and a partisaned state legislature SEPTA has proposed major service cuts effective in October 2003.

Proposed SEPTA service cuts

-- Reduce transit service

--Operate Sunday service levels on Saturday (CTD)
--Operate Bus on trackless trolley routes
--Reduce midday MFSE and BSS

-- City Transit Division
--discontinue service on bus Routes 19, 35, 47M, 77, 121 and Broad-
Ridge Spur
--route segment discontinuance on bus Routes C, 3, 24, 27, 31 67 and
88
--route consolidation on bus Routes 63 and 64

-- Suburban Transit Division Victory District
--discontinue service on bus Routes 116 and 123
--route consolidation on bus Routes 117 and 119
--increase midday headways on Media and Sharon Hill trolley lines
--increase headways on bus Routes 108 and 109
--service reductions on bus Routes 112, 113, 115, 118 and 120

-- Suburban Transit Division Frontier District
--discontinue service on bus Routes 92, 128 and 133
--route segment discontinuance on bus Route 97
--service frequency reductions with no service after 6 p.m. on
weekdays and Saturdays on bus Routes 93, 94, 127 and 130
--service reductions with no Saturday service on bus Route 206

-- Regional Rail Service
--discontinue service on R6 Cynwyd, R1 Airport, R2 Warminster and R8
Chestnut Hill West
--close 9 stations--Lamokin, Angora, Eddystone, Rydal, Delaware
Valley College, Linkbelt, Eddington, Wister and Wissinoming
--service reductions--no weekend R5 service beyond Lansdale
--no weekend service on R8 Fox Chase

-- Total Savings -- $25 million
--CTD - $14.5 M
--STD\Victory District - $1.7 M
--STD\Frontier District - $1.1 M
--RRD - $7.7M

REDUCE EXPENSES

-- Cut Material and Services
-- Labor
-- Exposure to budget overruns due to unforeseen circumstances
-- Reduce expenses $15 Million

RAISE FARES

-- Average fare increase of 5.5%
--Tokens by 10 cents
--Transfers by 10 cents
-Passes-
-- CTD Weekly increase 75 cents
-- CTD Monthly increase $3.00
-- RRD Zone 3 Weekly increase $2.50
-- RRD Zone 3 Monthly increase $7.50
-- Parking fees $0.50 to $1.
-- Revenue Increases $15 million
-- Ridership declines 1.5%

Schedule

-- Release budget outlook to public - week of March 31, 2003
-- Distribute budget - week of April 6
-- Public Hearings - May 5-12
-- Board Approval - June 26

Insensitive quote of the week
"SEPTA will be crying 'poor me,' but those cuts are here to stay," said Eric Bugaile, director of the Republican-controlled state House Transportation Commitee."
I guess stranded SEPTA riders are just collateral damage.