Talk:Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority

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[edit] Primary topic disambiguation

What do people think about moving this to SEPTA (or having this redirect there) and moving SEPTA to SEPTA (disambiguation)? Out of the top 100 google results, 76 are for the transit system, and about half the others are for the plural of septum. --SPUI 14:19, 14 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Moving to SEPTA would go against relevant Wikipedia naming conventions, in my opinion. Causing SEPTA to redirect here and moving the current to SEPTA (disambiguation) is something I would support, but am lukewarm about. CComMack 10:18, 19 Jan 2005 (UTC)

The main reason I'm proposing the move is that I'm tired of typing [[Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority|SEPTA]] every time; a redirect would accomplish that. I'll give it a few more days and do it if there are no objections. --SPUI 19:31, 19 Jan 2005 (UTC)

I support either proposition. Having the article here doesn't make much sense. Chazzoz 21:35, Jan 19, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Split

I've completed a split into individual articles; the page was getting rather long and unwieldly. --SPUI 05:45, 19 Jan 2005 (UTC)

While the page's former length wasn't an inherent problem, it certainly was rather incoherent. This is much better now, and I thank you. Outstanding issues: List of Philadelphia subway stations has one link to it left to fix: how do you propose dealing with it? Norristown High Speed Line has some redirects that I would fix myself, but I'm going to be late for class. --CComMack 11:50, 19 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Replying to myself with a quick addendum: for the yet-to-be-written article on the 101 and 102, does Suburban trolley routes (SEPTA) work better as an article title (in the "Line name (agency)" nomenclature that seems to be the emerging standard)? Or do we want Media and Sharon Hill rail lines, perhaps?

I used the terms that the schedules use. Is there a normally-used name for the lines, like Norristown High Speed Line for the 100? I guess the current name might be a problem if the 15 ever starts, so I would support a change to SEPTA Suburban Trolley Lines. By the way, do you know anything about the early history of the PATCO Speedline and where it connected on the Philly side? The sources I've found conflict. --SPUI 19:28, 19 Jan 2005 (UTC)

The link to the list seems fine to me; it takes you to the main SEPTA page where you can choose which of the two lines you want. --SPUI 19:28, 19 Jan 2005 (UTC)

[edit] No more trackless trolly

SEPTA suspened all trackless trolley routes in 2001 1. --Boothy443 08:29, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

[edit] SEPTA reputation

Is there any objective way to include SEPTA's reputation, that is to say, what the people think of it? I'm originally from New York, and have lived D.C., London and Israel-Palestine, and nowhere have I found as bizaarely organized a mass transit system as SEPTA. Even the Palestinians under occupation, and the Israelis faced with bus bombings, do a better job at scheduling and coverage. For instance, why is that there is such redudancy in bus routes in Center City and barely any buses for the Greater Northeast, West or South Philly? Why is it that commuters are expected to pay what amounts to a discounted Metro North fee to ride the Regional Rails?--there should be bus or trolley service to these areas, not a mini-Amtrack. Etc etc. -Chris Schwartz

You've got a point, though I can't think of any way these sort of things could be included in an NPOV sort of way. ("Criticisms of SEPTA," or what?) With all the problems it's had recently (nearly shutting down all service on weekends, for example), there should definitely be something, though I don't know what, exactly. --Dirk Gently 18:52:34, 2005-08-10 (UTC)

Maybe some historical perspective would explain the situation somewhat. SEPTA inherited bus and trollley routes from the PTC, Red Arrow, and other private transit companies. Later, they inherited the commuter rail lines from Conrail, who in turn inherited them from the bankrupt Penn Central and Reading companies. The separate companies had separate fare structures and routes and competed with each other, so there are a lot of features that would never have happened under a centrally planned system. An article on the historical foundation of SEPTA may be relevant, but the current issues with SEPTA management are more of a debate issue that belongs in a forum. --Luciuskwok 21:31, 12 August 2005 (UTC)

That seems reasonable; I think some information on the history of the organization would help people (such as me and Chris) understand its current situation. --Dirk Gently 17:41:16, 2005-08-13 (UTC)

No, there's essentially no way to discuss the general opinion of SEPTA while maintaining any semblance of NPOV. If it were only incredibly inconvenient, or expensive, or crappily run, or staffed by the surliest people ever, that'd be ok. The galling thing is, it's all of those things, all at once. It's hard to believe this is the 5th largest city in the US.

My God, yes! I've actually said nearly the same thing (in nearly the same words) to myself (and anyone else around) countless times while riding/waiting for/waiting on SEPTA.

--I think we should note that the rail map that SEPTA uses is not at all to scale. Anyone familiar with the Philadelphia area can see this easily, but I think the map gives a distorted impression of the scope of SEPTA's service - when in fact as many of us know, they give very limited service to many areas.

[edit] Word Root

I haven't seen anything anywhere with an explanation of SEPTA's root. (Latin: seven) I was wondering if anyone knows of any relation.

Someone new to Philadelphia actually asked me about this recently. I didn't know, but I don't think there's a connection; SEPTA is just an acronym for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, and presumably this acronym was chosen to be pronouncable. SEPTA serves the five-county Philadelphia region (and five is not seven), and as far as I know doesn't have seven of anything.

Izzycat 01:39, 18 October 2005 (UTC)

Besides, Latin for seven is "septem".

207.245.124.66 13:52, 28 October 2005 (UTC)

Never heard of this connection. However, once when I was in 30th Street Station, a traveler asked me how to get to "Septum". I told her that it was underneath the cartilage of the nose. :)

- Sensor 23:19, 28 October 2005 (UTC)

and of course, people who want to inslt it occasionally call it "Septic".

I'm pretty sure there's a connection. I just forgot what it is. But I'm also pretty sure that the connection is just a coincidence.

[edit] Attempted Suicide 6/8/2006

Hey everybody, I was a passenger in the front car of the El that was struck by a jumper from the platform yesterday. I'm looking for any information regarding the jumper (amazingly, he survived the impact, crashing through the front door, but I don't know if he lived much longer afterwards) and the conductor. Any information would be greatly appreciated. --Christopher Schwartz, Philadelphia City Paper 139.84.48.249 16:13, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What is "quasi-public"?

This article claims SEPTA is a quasi-public state agency; the link links to "public benefit corporation", however. Ken Arromdee 20:43, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Service area.

As wrongfully stated in the topic "Word Root" SEPTA does indeed service seven counties. They include Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania, New Castle County in Delaware (Newark, Churchmans Crossing, Wilmington, and Claymont on the R2 Regional Rail line,) and Mercer County in New Jersey (Trenton on the R7 and West Trenton on the R3.)

That's inconsequential nitpicking. The acronym SEPTA predates their acquisition of the regional rail system. Since you're basing this "seven" thing on the number of counties the RRD services, your logic is flawed; when SEPTA was chartered in 1963, that number would have been nine, since the R6 Norristown line terminated in Pottsville (Reading County) and the present-day R5 Doylestown terminated in Bethlehem (Lehigh County).

The "history" section of the article makes it very clear: SEPTA grew out of SEPACT (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Compact), the agency which coordinated the various public transportation services between Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, and Chester Counties back in the 1960s. "SEPTA" is just an acronym that sounded good, no deeper meaning required. --Cardinal biggles 18:06, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Fleet Information

I was wondering that perhaps the information on the SEPTA fleet (e.g. Rail Cars, Subway Cars, Buses, etc.) could be moved to the articles on their respective lines, thus freeing up space for information about SEPTA proper on this article. Of course, as there is no article for the buses or trackless trolleys yet, that Fleet information may have to stay here. Anyway, I would like to generate some discussion on this point before trying any action.-- danntm ^T _C 00:45, 12 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] SEPTA today

Some people who despise SEPTA uses cars or a Taxi to go to their destination (if car users can endure the gas price hikes.)

Right now, SEPTA is becoming one of the worst Public Transit Agencies in the U.S.

Keenrich 20:50, 20 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] SEPTA Station Naming Conventions

Just so everyone knows, I proposed a while back naming conventions for SEPTA stations, with discussion here. The proposed conventions will require considerable changes for MFL stations. Please feel free to contribute there.-- danntm ^T _C 16:28, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 2007 Service Reductions

I can find no pages corroborating the entries listed under "Expected SEPTA Service Levels, Effective September 2007". Can a link or reference to this data please be provided? On philly.com, I only find an editorial which states that the current crisis is being met with a LACK of calls for drastic reduction, so I'd like to see where the above section got its facts. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 161.88.255.139 (talk) 15:09, 8 December 2006 (UTC).

Until someone can provide references, I've moved the section here: Marnanel 16:32, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

Good work, Marnanel. Although drastic service cuts were implicit, absent restructing of how PA funds transportation, there has been no publicly released plan I know about of service cuts. And absent the actual plan, there is no verifiability, and we can only speculate.-- danntm ^T _C 22:34, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Reduction in Service

Plans are in the works to rapidly reduce service levels for SEPTA, in order to balance anticipated budget deficits for FY07-08.

[edit] Expected SEPTA Service Levels, Effective September 2007

[edit] Subway (Orange and Blue Lines)

Operate Subway Lines During Peak Times Only. Eliminate Mid-Day, Evening, and Weekend Service. Subway Service Weekdays from 6AM-9AM and 4PM-7PM. Trains will run every 30 minutes during these times.

[edit] Bus (All Routes)

Eliminate and or Consolidate 75 Bus Routes. Eliminate Weekend Service. Elminate Evening Service. Operate Bus Routes from 5AM to 7PM, Weekdays Only. Reduce Peak Service by 75% Eliminate Mid-day Service on 65% of remaining routes

Green Line (Trolley Routes)

Convert to Diesel Bus Service Operate Diesel Buses on existing Trolley Routes during peak times only, every 30 minutes.

Regional Rail (Eliminate Weekend, Mid-day, and Evening Service) Operate only from 5AM-9AM, and 3PM-8PM. Operate Trains every 60 minutes on all lines.

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