Philadelphia Transportation Thread

[mcgrath618]

Philly should not have only two subways. We desperately need more rapid transit, as SEPTA buses are incredibly annoying to drive with.

[summersm343]

PHL, other Pa. airports split $5.9M in state funding

The Philadelphia International Airport and three other Pennsylvania airports have received a combined total of more than $5.9 million from the state. The funds are earmarked for facility upgrades.

PHL Airport is amid an evolution to make it an even more competitive and attractive airport. Among recent and completed changes is the $160 million worth of upgrades to Terminal F that now feature a new baggage claim facility and a food court area that seats more people, among other changes.

Other projects are on-going, including the 1,494 linear-foot extension of Runway 9R-27L and construction of associated taxiway work, which has a price tag of about $193 million.

This project just received $800,000 from the state, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Thursday. The money brings PHL closer to finishing the runway extension – set to be complete next year, according to an airport spokeswoman.

The PHL Airport was one of four airports to receive funding from a larger pool of $5.9 million.

Runway capacity improvement would be a boon for PHL Airport, because it could remedy the issue of overcrowding, since they will allow for more flexibility and efficiency for departures and arrivals.

The investments announced on Thursday are funded by the state Multimodal Fund, created by Act 89, which is Pennsylvania’s transportation funding plan.

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelp...ng-runway.html

[Sgalla04]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

Philly should not have only two subways. We desperately need more rapid transit, as SEPTA buses are incredibly annoying to drive with.

Try and think optimistic. We have 4! Including the PATCO and Broad Ridge Spur. The PATCO does come in handy during bad weather to get from Rittenhouse Sq to Olde City. Hopefully in the near future to Franklin Sq and a short walk to Northern Liberties no problem.

[summersm343]

SEPTA fare card rollout for Philly transit users nearly complete

http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...-complete.html

[volguus zildrohar]

I've been using Key since last summer. Very convenient as a daily SEPTA rider and not having to wait in line to buy a Transpass is quite nice. Malfunctioning kiosks/fareboxes are an occasional issue but it's really just so nice to tap and go.

[Parkway]

The website is still a disaster but at full rollout it also won't be necessary. You could live a perfectly normal life with the travel wallet or pass and never visit the website.

[summersm343]

New Frontier nonstop route to Puerto Rico coming to PHL

Read more here:
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelp...l-airport.html

[summersm343]

SEPTA's capital budget funds buses, trains, bridges, and more money for the Key card

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...Key-card-.html

[nylkoorB]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

Philly should not have only two subways. We desperately need more rapid transit, as SEPTA buses are incredibly annoying to drive with.

This is the reason I voted No ^^^.

However I do think they do a great job with commuter rail. If only SEPTA had put as much into Philly's subway system as they did into their commuter rail.

[EastSideHBG]

Watch: Why Philly rides the El, at every stop on the Market-Frankford line (video)
Posted on Mon, Apr 24, 2017
http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...420198364.html

Proposed SEPTA hikes draw fire
Updated: APRIL 25, 2017 — 1:08 AM EDT
http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...draw_fire.html

[summersm343]

Philadelphia International Airport Plans for New $200M Air Traffic Control Tower

Read more at http://www.phillymag.com/business/20...S5UpOqE0LbJ.99

[skyscraper]

In the main Philadelphia Development thread, there is a link to an article on Philly.com about a study calling for a West Philly Innovation District. Here is the link: http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...-20170517.html

One of the things that came out of this study is the suggestion that there should be additional stops on the MFL between 15th and 30th Streets:

"In terms of planning and development, the study backs serious consideration of improved infrastructure to aid transit between University City and western Center City, including the addition of Market-Frankford Line train stops between 15th and 30th Streets."

This is obviously not the first time time this idea has come up, although it is the first time I can remember them using the plural "stops" and not just one. It seems a no-brainer that additional stations are needed along that stretch if you are looking to develop that part of town more. So the first thing that comes up is the cost of building these stations and who pays for them. This would be a great incubator type of experiment to see how willing the private sector would be to be a major part of transit infrastructure financing, realizing that to attract major talent to their companies they need to locate near transit. The city could exchange zoning considerations for companies looking to build here and contribute to new subway stations, for example. I don't think I would be in favor of the ad hoc tax breaks that the city normally gives. The city needs to realize that if it has to give so many tax breaks to so many individual companies then it probably needs to revamp its entire taxing structure (which they desperately do.) But zoning considerations, as they do in New York all the time, seems a reasonable place to start to incentivize companies to locate and develop properties here.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

In the main Philadelphia Development thread, there is a link to an article on Philly.com about a study calling for a West Philly Innovation District. Here is the link: http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...-20170517.html

One of the things that came out of this study is the suggestion that there should be additional stops on the MFL between 15th and 30th Streets:

"In terms of planning and development, the study backs serious consideration of improved infrastructure to aid transit between University City and western Center City, including the addition of Market-Frankford Line train stops between 15th and 30th Streets."

This is obviously not the first time time this idea has come up, although it is the first time I can remember them using the plural "stops" and not just one. It seems a no-brainer that additional stations are needed along that stretch if you are looking to develop that part of town more. So the first thing that comes up is the cost of building these stations and who pays for them. This would be a great incubator type of experiment to see how willing the private sector would be to be a major part of transit infrastructure financing, realizing that to attract major talent to their companies they need to locate near transit. The city could exchange zoning considerations for companies looking to build here and contribute to new subway stations, for example. I don't think I would be in favor of the ad hoc tax breaks that the city normally gives. The city needs to realize that if it has to give so many tax breaks to so many individual companies then it probably needs to revamp its entire taxing structure (which they desperately do.) But zoning considerations, as they do in New York all the time, seems a reasonable place to start to incentivize companies to locate and develop properties here.

I think it's a matter of the difficulty posed by existing building foundations and utility infrastructure. Probably the easiest place to put a MFL station would be by the huge PECO-owned lot that runs from 22nd to 23rd St.

[volguus zildrohar]

Unlikely to happen due to cost-to-value situations. That stretch of the Market Street Subway would have to be closed for various intervals if not for an extended period to allow work to be done. To do so would be to impact The El and the five subway-surface trolleys that it carries disrupting transit all across the city because the route is so spinal.

A better case could be made if there weren't already two trolley stations within that stretch. Yes it requires a transfer but it's better than a seven block walk.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by volguus zildrohar

A better case could be made if there weren't already two trolley stations within that stretch. Yes it requires a transfer but it's better than a seven block walk.

And it's such a fast, easy free transfer at 30th St. Every week or two I have to make a quick trip out to 69th St to save taxes on my ciggies; coming back I transfer to the trolley at 30th - about 2 or 3 minutes max from hopping off the MFL to emerging from the trolley station at 19th or 22nd St. It might be a little while longer waiting for the trolley if I were traveling off-peak.

[summersm343]

Airlines at PHL agree to $900 million in improvements

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...-20170522.html

[summersm343]

First Icelandair flight arrives at PHL

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...-20170530.html

[summersm343]

SEPTA approves express bus for Roosevelt Boulevard

Read more here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...html?mobi=true

[shadowbat2]

SEPTA signs CRRC coach contract

USA: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority signed a contract on May 4 for CRRC Tangshan to supply 45 double-deck coaches for use on its Regional Rail network of commuter services.

The SEPTA board approved the purchase earlier this year. There is a base order worth $137·5m, with options for 10 more vehicles that would bring the value to $161m if exercised.

The coaches are to be produced primarily at CRRC’s plant in Springfield, Massachusetts, with the first due to be delivered by the end of 2019. The coaches would be hauled by ACS-64 electric locomotives that Siemens is supplying to SEPTA under a contract awarded in 2015.

http://www.metro-report.com/news/new...-contract.html

[Busy Bee]

What is the deal with this country and stainless steel?