[jsbrook]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan

I couldn't agree more with everything you've stated! You also indirectly made a good case for something that would substantially benefit the region: converting the Regional Rail into a rapid transit service.

Like other regions, housing prices continue to rise in the core city. Unlike other regions, however, Philly has a ton of urban nodes in the suburbs. They are spread across multiple counties and states, united by the Regional Rail. A Regional Rail ride from Chester to University City does indeed take around 25 minutes, which is about as much time as it takes one to ride a local BSL train from Fern Rock to City Hall. If the Regional Rail could run at even 20 minute headways, the city would become so much more accessible to the outlying area. Building affordable housing out in the suburbs--where cheap land, in-tact urban downtowns, and transit centers exist--would help to ease price pressure within the city. Combine this with a fare restructuring, and we have great connectivity throughout the region. Transit connectivity is a big reason that affordable housing tends to be highly concentrated in cities.

The Cynwyd Line should be SEPTA's guinea pig: it is short, has high-level platforms at 60% of its stations (Suburban, 30th Street, and Wynnfield Avenue), and has Platform #7 specially designated for it at Suburban. It also stops at Bala, which is under high-traffic City Avenue. That area has a ton of college students at St. Joe's, a lot of workers at the surrounding office buildings at Bala Cynwyd, and the Montgomery Avenue business district in Bala. Run two-car trains along that line at 20 minute intervals throughout the day and watch ridership explode. The 1, 44, 52, and 65 could also drop passengers off at Bala, providing a quick trip to Center City. With the new SEPTA Key technology, the cost of a trip along that line can be made to be the same as a typical transit trip.

Yep. I think we really need significant government investment in rail and subway transit along the lines of what we saw in highways during the Eisenhower administration and urban renewal period. THAT is the infrastructure investment we need. Unfortunately, I don't think it's forthcoming.