New names for SEPTA

SEPTA is contemplating renaming some stations along the Norristown High Speed Line and the suburban trolley routes 101 and 102.

The changes should happen before July 1, Kim Scott Heinle, assistant general manager for customer service, told a meeting of the SEPTA Citizen Advisory Committee.

Heinle declined to name the stations that are up for consideration, saying SEPTA needed to inform stakeholders and develop a final list of name changes before releasing names to the public.

He said the authority would reach out to local political officials, riders and transit advocates to get their input on any decisions.

This move comes on the heels of SEPTA’s decision to rename regional rail lines, and he said both ideas originated from the same effort to make the system easier to understand for new and infrequent riders.

Many stations along the three lines were first opened a hundred years ago, and SEPTA has gotten feedback from riders and operators who have said that station names don’t match up with existing neighborhoods and local roads and landmarks.

In other news, the CAC is considering ways of closing certain meetings to the public.

SEPTA has indicated that it won’t discuss sensitive issues before the group in public hearings, for fear that members of the media will report on projects before the authority is ready to talk about them.

The CAC is considering its legal options under the state public meetings law.

Contact the reporter at campisi.anthony@gmail.com