“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
It’s the last week of the Pretzel Pedal Challenge! Log your bike rides during September to automatically earn points that qualify you for gift card drawing and prizes! Create a Share-A-Ride profile to join!
Week Without Driving starts next week Thursday, October 1st. There are a few events that Philadelphians can take part in during this week. Click here for how to get involved!
WHYY: SEPTA unveils wishlist for improvements and upgrades, but no sign of funding to make it happen – SEPTA released a list of goals and ideas in their “Accelerate” plan this week. Accelerate highlights the ideal future for SEPTA if there was a more reliable funding source from the state. Accelerate focuses on a few main ideas: increasing the number Philadelphians served with frequent transit, increasing the number of accessible stations, and connect more jobs in the city with frequent transit. The lack of dedicated funding sources has stalled long-term improvements to the system.
WESA NPR: Pittsburgh transit advocates call for bolder plan, ask riders to weigh in on bus line update – Pittsburgh’s Bus Line Refresh, a cost-neutral plan, will rework service to improve and boost ridership. Routes with low ridership are in danger of being cut, but transit advocates warn against cutting people off from service. Pittsburgh Regional Transit faces a fiscal cliff at the end of this state budget year without a dedicated funding source from the PA Legislature. Comments are requested to improve the plan by September 30 and can be submitted here.
The Inquirer: SEPTA got 24 commuter trains from Montreal, but it could be months before you can ride one – SEPTA purchased surplus train cars from Montreal’s transit system, and they have arrived in PA. The cars are in Malvern for some modifications before joining the Regional Rail fleet late this year. SEPTA avoided paying the estimated $3.5 million extra in tariffs after research showed U.S. Customs and Border Protection that the cars were not subject to import duties.
Other Stories
Transit Forward Philadelphia: We Rode Transit for 24 Hours!
Philadelphia Today: Roosevelt Boulevard Gets $134M in Upgrades as Subway Debate Continues
Philly Tribune: SEPTA’s new bus network drives ridership growth across city
