SEPTA roll call for Saturday

I enjoy living in south philly, only have to deal with 10 blocks of that traffic, then hit 95 south.

 

I'm in on this one

Hey! SEPTA! SOMB!

 

Wish I would've realized this before I went down there, then wound up missing the last train to mt airy from Market by 5 minutes. gah.

 

Did the 23 bus bail you out?

I was surprised by the number of patrons we had on a late night given the late start (which often makes the transfers difficult) and with the threat of rain. The Chester platform was pretty packed. The automated up to 10 minutes late announcements were bogus. If anything, the departures screen indicated on time, furthermore, the inbound train is the same car as the last outbound train, which just turns around when it reaches the end of the line in Marcus Hook. Sometimes I shake my head at SEPTA.

 

This probably has as good of a chance as the rest of America getting high speed rail.

 

Having a picture of the rails near the stadium is somewhat misleading. CSX still uses that line for freight, which surprises me on game days since it is a safety threat and an inconvenience for drivers.

Did anyone see the study alternatives? Could there be a subway/elevated mini connector between new station on the line and the stadium and casino? If so, the problem will still be infrequency of trains on the line. Once an hour will not suffice. By the time the train gets back to the city after a weekend night game, there are no transfers left except Glenside and perhaps Norristown and Malvern. Driving for 3 hours plus is not helpful... and this "construction" is taking too long.

 

Hey SEPTA Soccer Fans,

Anyone going to the Philadelphia Independence first playoff game at PPL Park on Saturday at 4pm (vs. Abby Wambach and/or fellow National Teamers?) there will be no shuttle. The transit-user options are a $10 cab from Chester station, a less than one mile walk from Highland ave. station (my preferred method), or a 113 bus connection which comes to PPL Park but once an hour. Parking at PPL will also be available for $10. For more details please message me or see the Independence forum thread here.

Thanks.

 

defeats the purpose for non licensed fans...

who else wants to burn to the ground?

 

don't understand your post of half sentences. at all. I'd like to know what you're trying to say.

It's a less than one mile walk from door to door, and less than that from lot B / tailgating. The shuttle, while necessary at night, I only use when it's dark or raining. And I'm talking about a 4pm game. So walking there is a valid option.

 

oh it's valid, it is. but think of the regular feeling that comes from hearing the name "Chester" in regards to the city. Not many who haven't done it will go down there without guaranteed transit. A mile in a bad area is still bad.

And this just proves that septa still doesn't really give a damn... Another thing that's valid? waiting for a regular local subway car to the stadiums in south philly instead of getting a sports express train. etc.etc.etc.

I know there's red tape involved with much of septa's stuff, but if there is anything outside of broad street, they really aren't "getting you there". this is coming from a suburbanite who moved to the city. Even the inner city transport sucks balls (busses overlooking you while you are at the stop off the curb, 10 busses in 2 minute span then a 40 minute wait for a 15 minute interval route..etc.)

and the only thing in my post in "half sentence form" was me leaving out septa to burn to the ground by accident... was morning... regular mental slip.

 

OK, for sure SEPTA has some deficiencies.

That being the case, I have been posting SEPTA schedules in the Union forum as well as in the Independence forum as a means of information. I also put disclaimers up about the Highland Ave walk, however, it's not SEPTA's responsibility to clean up sidewalks and street corners for a 1 mile radius around its stations. I would like it if the stadium owner made the portion of Highland Ave/Seaport Drive that is on its "campus" a safer walk. The city, for its part, has hired sheriffs to direct traffic along that route and so I do feel pretty safe walking through Chester after games because they are there.

 

Neighborhood aside, trying to get traffic volume when not allowing ability for volume to exist, is the problem

 

I recommend SEPTA people leave the stadium at 9:15 on Saturday 9/10 and walk (23 minutes) together to catch the train at Highland Ave at 9:40PM. There is always a sheriff directing traffic on Highland ave, so the area, while not ideal, is not totally unsafe or desserted either. It is swamped with traffic, both pedestrian and car, after games.

The next trains (11:21 PM at Highland, and 11:24 at Chester) are simply not a realistic option for most, because they don't get back to the city until 12:05 minimum, causing most possible transfers to other SEPTA services to be missed, except for Jenkintown, Glenside and Broad Street Line and a mere few others.

I HATE leaving a game early, and 9:15 PM will no doubt be in about the 75th minute.

If anyone is stranded after the 9:40 PM train, here is a number for Chester City cab that can take you from the ticket window at PPL Park to other regional rail options: 610-447-0770. However, traffic flow around PPL park will probably make cab ride more expensive and time intensive than usual and it might be worthwhile to consider the leave early option first.

Swarthmore - 2 South Chester Rd, Swarthmore, PA (6 miles from PPL, the train to take is at 10:15 PM)

Eastwick- 84th St at 8438 Bartram Ave, Philadelphia (9.6 mi, $25+ cab, half hourly service is at x:17 PM and x:47 PM to University city, Center city and Jenkintown station for transfers, and intermediate stops on Saturdays)

30th street station_ under normal circumstances, $40-$50 cab. However, with traffic being what it is after games, this is not a viable taxi ride

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CONGRATULATIONS PHILA INDEPENDENCE 2010-2011 Finalists. Hey, Pia! You need Buscz
Foes: NYRB, aka Newark, New Jersey

 

Is anyone taking SEPTA this Saturday for the charity tailgate? Any word if there will be early shuttle buses?

 

on the early end, they usually start 4 hours before the game. is that considered early?

http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/content/directions-public-transportation

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CONGRATULATIONS PHILA INDEPENDENCE 2010-2011 Finalists. Hey, Pia! You need Buscz
Foe: New York Red Bulls, aka Newark, New Jersey

 

I am so happy to report that after leaving yesterday's scoreless boondoggle in the 75th minute, I and the other 6 people who were mindful of the 9:40 curfew sat and waited an extra half hour for the shuttle busses to arrive at Chester, which is good for the sake of many, even though it caused the 10:35 Lansdale connection to be missed by a mere seconds at 30th street station.

Be prepared for more significant transfer problems than usual for our next home game on Saturday 9/17, as SEPTA has announced construction that will cause the Chester-line to SKIP UNIVERSITY CITY stop as well as ORIGINATE/TERMINATE AT THE LOWER LEVEL of AMTRAK 30th STREET. Customers boarding at Norristown through Suburban Station MUST GET AN EARLIER TRAIN TO 30th AND THEN TRANSFER TO THE AMTRAK PLATFORM FOR A TRAIN MARKED MARCUS HOOK and/or WILMINGTON.

Details:

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CONGRATULATIONS PHILA INDEPENDENCE 2010-2011 Finalists. Hey, Pia! You need Buscz
Foe: New York Red Bulls, aka Newark, New Jersey

 

Getting back to 30th Street tonight at 11:33 PM or later. Please be sure your connection to another regional rail line exists at such a late hour and is reasonable.

Loving these 8pm starts, SEPTA peeps.

 

I mention this before, as i'm from the 'burbs and there was never any bus transit (read: convenient transit) out there, even though it would have been useful.

SEPTA provides a service, with limited capabilities. Because of this, instead of taking SEPTA, you drive everywere, causing the numbers of those who take the service to lessen from actuality.

Because these numbers lessen and lessen because of Septa's inefficiencies - ala bus driver was asleep during his shift (has happened), half hour late, 20 minutes early, - demand goes down from the already hanging by a bare thread because of poor / not enough scheduling for the service.

Because demand has gone down, in SEPTA's eyes only, they feel that there is no use of the service in existence, and therefore then cuts back on the service and stops of the system in place, once again lessening the existing commuters that take the service.


Septa doesn't adapt well to change unless it means cutting back money - making a shit ton. They will gladly cut a stop off their trains and buses when an area goes down hill (ie: the factory area where PPL park is) but when something comes along that can build up the area, and creates a relative high demand - they don't do a damn thing...

Unless of course it involves Phillies or Eagles.

 

YES. I'm usually walking it both ways myself, but have been surprised there were rarely others walking whenever I went.

Keep in mind, on peak hour trains (heading TO weeknight games only) you should be charged $0.75 to $1.00 more to go to Highland (Zone 4) than to Chester (Zone 3). Therefore, I recommend anyone can still get off at Chester and take the shuttle (at least there's always one waiting with seats available in this direction!)

Furthermore, if you are taking the train from another zone 3 origin (such as: Swarthmore, Norristown, Jenkintown, Willow Grove, etc), to Chester, you might pay $7 on board for a zone 3-3 "via CenterCity ticket to Chester" (each) but if you say you are going to Highland ave, they will charge you $10 each way, ( an increase of as much as 6 bucks R/T for one station)!!

It is IMPORTANT, therefore to buy the $11 daypass (available for same price on board as in stations) or a monthly, if you are going to make this sort of a roundtrip, whether that be to Chester or to Highland, if your origin is past center city, you should absolutely buy the daypass. I REPEAT Unless you are only going as far as Temple (zone change), don't be suckered into buying a standard roundtrip when the discount is available!

For those concerned about safety: the walk is over 50% on PPL lot property, and the sheriffs are directing traffic on the other portion. The only person who ever spoke to me was a very kind local who saw where I was coming from and asked me if they won? And when I said "yes" he was practically beside himself with happiness.

There is a lot of broken glass though, even in our parking lots and in the exits, whereby a recycling station, or neglect thereof, is often the cause. There is also a freight train track that you must cross which is frequently used, even though the haphazard gravel sidewalk crossing point has no warning lights. And one time I made the trip, I found there to be 2 used needles left on the Highland platform, which is a set of wooden board planks elevated from the street. I have also seen people loitering in the station's parking lot. I do not say any of this to discourage people from going, only want to make sure those that go are doing so carefully, in groups, and not too inebriated.