March 8, 2010
By Anthony Campisi
For PlanPhilly
SEPTA announced proposals for seven bus route changes and one new route at its annual service plan hearing last Friday.
The authority is contemplating changes to Routes 12, 97, 103, 105, 106, 118 and 139.
It is also proposing a new Route 72 that would run from Rising Sun Avenue and Cedarbrook Plaza along Cheltenham Avenue in Olney. The service would operate off peak on weekdays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and all day Saturdays to serve shoppers along the corridor. Charles Webb, head of SEPTA’s service planning division, said that the limited service would help the authority assess demand and that the service could be expanded to peak hours in the future.
SEPTA is also considering temporarily redoing routes 43, 52 or 64 to serve the West Parkside Industrial Park. The authority is relocating the Parkside Loop to a spot south of 50th Street and Parkside Avenue, which will provide better service to the industrial park in the long run.
Following is an overview of the proposed route changes. You can see PDFs of all the service change proposals below.
* Route 12: SEPTA wants to extend the Route 12, which travels from Southwest Philadelphia down to Society Hill, down into South Philadelphia and the Columbus Commons shopping center on Snyder Avenue. The city proposed the route change.
* Route 97: The SEPTA operations staff has suggested that the authority add service between Barren Hill and Chestnut Hill. Currently, buses travel down the route during their runs but don’t serve passengers.
* Route 103: SEPTA wants to shift the route near 60th Street Terminal to capture greater ridership in Highland Park.
* Route 105: SEPTA is considering a change to Route 105 in the face of weak ridership along City Avenue. The authority has commissioned a Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission study of Lancaster Avenue that it hopes will shed more light on ridership demand in the area to help with service planning.
* Route 106: SEPTA service planning is proposing extending the existing Route 106 from Ardmore Station to Paoli Hospital and the Paoli Industrial Park in off-peak service.
* Route 118: SEPTA wants to make a minor change to shift the route one block west in Media.
* Route 139: The authority is considering cutting service to the Philadelphia Premium Outlets in Limerick and is evaluating extending service along Township Line Road to Limerick Crossing.
Although SEPTA doesn’t have any money budgeted for the changes, they will be reviewed later this month when the tariff process kicks off to determine fares. Another public hearing will be held in April, and any changes that get funding will be voted on by the SEPTA Board in June or July.
Though SEPTA has been asked by Fairmount residents for better access to University City employment centers, the service planning division is still looking at its options and is planning on recommending a change next year.
Service planning staff has also pushed off a decision on defining so-called “lifeline routes.” This new category of routes would be considered to provide essential transportation service even if their ratio of farebox revenues to operating expenses fell below SEPTA’s threshold.
Webb said he hopes to have a lifeline route proposal next year.
SEPTA also released its annual route performance review at the meeting, which shows the operating ratios of all bus, trolley and rail lines.
Seventeen routes in the City Transit Division and 11 in the Suburban Transit Division fell below SEPTA’s operating ratio standards in fiscal year 2009.
On the City Transit side, Route 60 had the highest operating ratio, recovering 64 percent of its expenses from farebox revenue. Route 77 had the lowest, with an operating ratio of 12 percent.
At 50 percent, Route 305 had the highest operating ratio among suburban routes, and Route 306 had the lowest, at 7 percent.
Among regional rail lines, the R3 Elwyn had the highest operating ratio, at 67 percent, and the R8 Chestnut Hill West came in at the bottom, with 34 percent.
Check out the attached annual performance review — raw data SEPTA gives on how much money each of its routes is losing and on each route's ridership. Also included at bottom are PDFs of all the route changes.
Contact the reporter at campisi.anthony@gmail.com
Comments
I use the Route 12 often and would support the change to include the Queen Village area more directly.
Yes - I like the proposed changes to the #12 Septa bus! The sooner, the better!
The proposed changes to the 12 route are a tremendous improvement for Queen Village residents. Please pursue these changes. Thank you.
I love the proposed changes to Rt. 12. It has my full support.
I am very much in favor of the proposed Septa Route 12 changes.
I take the 12 bus almost daily back and forth from Broad and Walnut, and it's hard to trek through so much snow and ice in Queen Village. I REALLY welcome the proposal to reroute the buses through our neighborhood. Please act on this as soon as possible. And thank you so much for thinking of our community!
Very in favor of new proposed changes to Route 12!!!!! thank you! -Nancy
The extension of route 12 would make me consider using SEPTA more often. Changing vehicles two or three times is often frustrating as I watch my connection leaving just as the bus I am on arrives. More often then not, I find myself walking.
As a Queen Village resident, I enthusiastically support the changes proposed for Route 12, which will give us easier access to Center City.
Support the Bus 12 change!
The proposed change to Route 12 would be a wonderful and welcome new transportation option for those of us in South Philadelphia. Having a direct route to Center City without having to make transfers or walk long distances would be wonderful. I would be ecstatic if this change was made.
My husband and I strongly supporty the proposed change of the Route 12 bus. As residents of QV we would greatly appreciate more direction transportation to Broad and Locust. One of is a newly retired senior citizen; the other commutes to Chestnut Hill, and this bus will make the commute much easier to Market East. I hope the considered change passes 119 Kenilworth St. Phila PA 19147
I think the proposed plan for route 12 expansion is a great idea. I live in Queen Village and would definitely utilize this route!
I wholeheartedly support the rte 12 changes, it will significantly simplify the transportation from Queen Village to city hall and rittenhouse areas.
Yes to changes to Route 12.
This would be a truly wonderful move. Of course, the 12 comes only every 15 minutes at rush hours, every 20 otherwise during the week,and every half hour on weekends. It would be wonderful if there was greater frequency, as well. I'd also like to know more about the proposed change to route 64. I hope it doesn't change the route up Washington Ave. and then to 49th St!
I fully support the proposed change to Route 12. Since the last strike I have been strongly considering cancelling my monthly Transpass order during the non-winter months. I currently have to take 2 buses to work and I felt that it might be just as quick to walk or ride a bike. If the 12 started servicing our area though, I would definitly stick with Septa.
I live in Queen Village, and would LOVE the proposed Route 12 expansion--please do it!
RE the proposed change to Route 12, I am highly in favor of the extension into South Philadelphia. I am a daily rider of Route 12 and a Queen Village resident, and I would continue to use it regularly and even more frequently if its route passed closer to my home (as the proposed extension would do). I also suggest adding a final run later than the current one. I work nights, and sometimes I'm detained, causing me to miss what is now the last eastbound run. Thanks for the good service.