Yo, Mike: Transportation

Derrick Stokes
Senior Director, Marketing Communications
Transportation Management Association of Chester County
What is your strategy to improve transportation and public transit in Philadelphia and its neighboring suburban counties? We all have a stake in improving public transit and reducing traffic congestion on our highways.
Thanks.
Good luck in November.

Stephen Trobovic, Jr.
Warminster, Pa.
Make sure that the Warminster Septa line keeps running! I realize that it sounds selfish, and you may not even care much because I'm from the suburbs, but I was born in Philadelphia, and I've lived at least 15 of my 45 years in Philadelphia Mike, so maybe you can understand. I've used the Warminster line to go to the airport, center city and Phillies games, and I like being able to take the family on the train, to which I have an emotional attachment. But the full parking lot on the Warminster end means people working in your city, and those getting off at the rush hour are working in places like Warminster's industrial areas, or Anne's choice. Now I understand that as mayor of Philadelphia you have limited power to dictate what SEPTA does with it's money, Mike. But you do have a voice, and the SEPTA board will hear it. Please do what you can to keep that line running, Mike. Thanks

Matthew Biedrzycki
Juniata Park
Membership Director
Pennsylvania Federation of College Democrats
membership@pacollegedems.com
Yo, Mike! The one thing I really need you to do is help solve SEPTA’s budget crisis. My father works for SEPTA for a little over 13 years and now they are recklessly cutting heads all around the organization to appease the budget restrictions set upon them. SEPTA employs a great deal of Philadelphians and is an important staple of the community.
I think the idea for better representation of Philadelphia’s citizens on SEPTA’s board will help develop a more interpersonal relationship between the community and the agency. Transportation is too important to ever leave. The quality of that transportation system however can only dwindle. People from other cities criticize our transit system for its un-cleanliness and inefficiency. Those comments reflect upon Philadelphia. The maintenance workers that help to improve that image everyday and now SEPTA are now on the chopping block. What will you do to help either solve or alleviate this crisis and ensure the live of many citizens who depend on SEPTA for their livelihood?

John Federico
The one thing you need to do is restore trolley service along the existing Route 23 bus line. It runs up and down 11th and 12th street through South Philly and Center City up to Mount Airy. The tracks and trolley wire are already in place for almost all of the route, at least through Center City. SEPTA actually had this on their capital plans for a number of years but it has been passed over, mostly because of funding issues I believe. But there is strong community support for restoring this trolley line - mostly because trolleys are quieter, cleaner, and will enhance property values. So go ahead and do it - restore the Route 23 Trolley Service!

Ellen Kadransky
Upper Darby
The one thing I really need you to do is lead a campaign to obtain dedicated funding for SEPTA. Just suppose you had to plan your personal finances without knowing the total money you had to work with.
The traffic is already so bad in the Delaware Valley that gasoline and peoples' time are being wasted in enormous quantities. The air is also being dangerously polluted. This is not a local problem. The entire state is being affected when people cannot get to jobs or transport goods in a timely manner.
This country prides itself on letting people make their own choices. Without a dependable transit system, the choices cannot be made as to how people want to get around. Even people who never ride SEPTA are usually glad to know their taxes are being used for a really essential government program. Please get a coalition working on this needed dedicated funds for public transit.

Al Pedo
Mr. Nutter -- the city needs to address the inefficiency of traffic flow. There are too many automobiles and (as is well known) an inefficient and fragmented public transportation system. SEPTA was going to eliminate the transfer pass? There shouldn't even be a transfer pass. We should be able to move throughout the city on the cost of one token. The system should be more fully integrated. Also, how about putting limits on cars allowed into the city. This can be done through a system that allows even plate numbers in one day, odd another, and like this alternate throughout the week. I expect such a suggestion to be laughed at because our rhetoric of excessive freedoms demands change without sacrifice.
One last issue concerning traffic: Construction in Center City spills out into the streets, closing sidewalks and ripping up pavement with heavy machinery, making it dangerous for cyclists and damaging to motorists. (And I don't think property owners pay to repave when their buildings go up, do they?). Sure, the city needs development, but the city government cannot let private interest walk all over public space, nor suck up public funds because of destruction they've caused.

Daniel Conner
Next septa contract, negotiate a clause that requires every septa bus driver to greet every passenger with good morning, good afternoon and good evening.

Casey Lynch
Frankford, moving to Somerton
Congratulations, I'm glad you won. The one thing I need you to do is get Septa in line. Have trains, El lines and Regional, that run later than 11 or 12. have a safe way for people to go into town and get home without driving. and make them go GREEN, it's bull that they haven't already. They work for us, not the other way around. And what about people who need to take two hours worth of buses for a 30 minute drive? it doesn't make any sense that the regional and El lines don't hook up in more places than 30th street.
I drive everywhere and I'd much rather take the train, but it's so bloody inconvenient to the environment and everyone on it. Good Luck Mike, you have my support.

Brendan
we really need to strengthen SEPTA, or rather public transit for the Philadelphia region. The system needs to run better, including a metrocrad system like NYC and Boston have at EVERY STOP. We need to make sure the 23 trolley re-opens.
use Philly's ownership of the tunnels and tracks to force change. Don't let Harrisburg rip us off again!

Jen F.
Manayunk
My absolute #1 wish is to have a city-wide public transportation upgrade. The remarkable public transportation in cities like San Francisco, Paris, and NYC leave a lasting impression on visitors and makes a tremendous impact on its citizens’ quality of life. A first class public transportation system would make Philadelphia a first class city, by uniting isolated neighborhoods, reducing parking problems, pollution and traffic jams, and benefiting the environment. Some ideas include expanding our high speed rails and electric buses. We could get creative with funding, like having corporate sponsorship of individual trolley stops and subway stations (i.e. “Wachovia 37th Street trolley stop”). Imagine what Philadelphians would do with an extra hour in the day not spent in traffic or waiting for late, slow-moving buses and trains (as we do with Septa). Think about the legacy that would be left with a mayor who revolutionized this city’s public transportation!

Laura Blackstone
Please be an advocate for helping Philadelphia to be a city where public transit is user-friendly with an extensive network with a large ridership, which would include 1) increasing the incentives for transit-oriented design, and 2) increasing the density of people who work in the urban core. To achieve this, the tax burden of Philadelphia needs to be comparable to King of Prussia, the transit network needs to be more extensive and intuitive. Currently, roundtrip SEPTA tokens with transfers is the equivalent of 3 hrs 45 min of metered parking. The cost of transit should be the equivalent of 1 - 2 hrs of parking to increase the ridership base, which would in turn put the cost of on-street parking costing the same as garage parking in 3 - 4 hrs, rather than a day of on-street being cheaper than a garage.

Jim Naughton
Yo Mike, i drive home to Center City from work every night in Montgomery County and there is usually a massive tie up around City Hall between 5:00 and 6:30, especially on Friday evenings. There are no cops on duty and everybody must (almost) take their life in their hands as they vie for a space as they struggle to go around the Hall. The main choke point seems to be 15th & JFK. Sometimes it takes 10 to 20 minutes to go from 17th & BF Pkwy to South Broad Street becasue of the backed traffic. It's worse when a cab or limo is unloading in front of the hotel at Broad & Chestnut, as they usually idle in a lane while offloading. I see plenty of cops on duty outside the hotel when a VIP is in town, and plenty of cops at the ballparks. Why are no police assigned to help traffic move around the symbol of this city. What with that and the broken clocks on City Hall tower, it makes a very good symbol for what's wrong with City Hall.
Assigning four or five officers for a two-hour shift would alleviate this choke point by providing order and direction.
Please fix this?
Thanks.

Kale Beers
Please remedy the Center City parking malaise/racket. We have a wonderful, vibrant and exciting downtown that we really are trying to drive traffic into and promote. Yet, the parking problem is enough to disuade people from going into town. Between the ambiguous and sometimes contradictory signs with several sets of regulatory hours and entire blocks of spaces taken out of commission due to "temporary police regualtions" that go on for days, it really feels like the city is trying bait people into parking illegally and collecting revenue on tickets, drive them into overpriced garages, or not come at all.
On a related note - public transportation isn't a real viable alternative for people who want to spend a late night in the city. Most regional rail trains stop running at 12:10 AM - two hours before most establishments close. Thus, the person who would like to go out on a Friday or Saturday and be responsible has to cut his or her night short or risk being stranded in the city.
Thanks for the smoking ban! Good luck!

Alan Sandman
I walk to and from work in Center City every day. Here are several things that I have noticed that diminish the quality of life in Philadelphia. SEPTA bus drivers rarely pull to the curb for embarking and disembarking patrons. In fact, the buses appear to take delight in remaing enough in the center of the street to prevent advancement of any lane of traffic. (In NYC, the buses always pull to the curb.) Philadelphia should have some regulation about automobile noise pollution. I have hearing problems and wear aids. Excessive bass booming is quite common and very uncomfortable. Please stand at any Center City intersection. There is practically never a change of traffic light without, including SEPTA and police, driving through red lights. Center City needs many more corner trash recepticles.
Thank you.

Whitney
The one thing I really need you to do is to fix Septa. This will probably include finding a dedicated, adequately sized funding source through city-state and federal partnerships. From there you need to force Septa to improve services on the lines it offers, including fare machines at every subway/el/regional rail stop, clean well-lit stops, later running times to encourage use of Septa for nightlife. In the future, you may want to look into expanding Septa's subway lines so they more areas of the city and the suburbs are more accessible by public transportation. A good model is DC's Metro. But first and foremost you have to stop these draconian fare hike proposals. Thanks and good luck.

Tom
Yo, Mike, the one thing I really need you to do is stop delivery trucks from double-parking on Chestnut and Walnut. Really.
They do it everyday. All day. So much so, and with such un-subtle audacity, I think it might not even be illegal.
All the other stuff, guns, education, violence, that probably (hopefully) occurred to you already. I'm not saying this is more important that those things, I just assume you've got a plan for those.
I don't think anyone at all knows/cares about this. And it bugs me that no one cares and lets it slow down the flow of Center City.

Allen McQuarrie
Senior Citizen
Doylestown, Pa.
As a frequent cultural and restaurant visitor to Philadelphia, I have
erred twice by parking over the limit by five minutes or slightly
more because of delays beyond my control. Within seconds over the
limit, our cars are towed by extremely efficient people who obviously
earn a living by aggressive enforcement. It takes some doing to find
out where your car has been towed. Business owners in the area give
you a blank stare and point to a sign with a phone number to call.
The busy signal is only the beginning. Once you find out where your
car has been towed and pay a cab to reach the lot, let the maze
begin!!!!
One line takes you to a person who gives you instructions to stand on
yet another line. If you have your registration in your pocket, you
can then make the transaction to pay the fine and towing charge which
is pretty hefty. Almost nobody carries both license and registration
in one's pocket so you are given an ID to go get your registration
and then return to the line to begin standing on line to ultimately
pay your fine. This took three hours both times I went through this
experience not counting trying to find the impound lot and driving to
the impound lot.
The first time I had this experience, I paid on one line but did not
hear I had yet another fine/towing fee to pay on another line due to
a noisy argument directly behind me. I got notice of failure to pay
in the mail and paid more for the less than super service I
experienced at the impound at a different location. By the way, it
is a good thing I did not assume the impound was the same the second
time I encountered this or I could have driven to the wrong place
only to discover I stood on line in the wrong place to ask where the
right impound was. Pure luck!!!! I wonder how many tourists have
done that and left Philadelphia never to return.
There should be a way to call a central number to find your car and
to pay for fines and towing charge by credit card with your license
as your identification. Once we reach the site to reclaim our cars,
we can verify ownership at the site where the car is parked. No line
should do the trick and the paper work could be done in the lot the
same way we transact at Hertz Rental.
One arduous experience is enough to discourage a visitor from ever
returning to the city. Two almost did it for me. I really hesitate
parking anywhere in the city except in expensive garages. That is a
topic for another day.
Yo Mike! Thanks for listening.

F Shaw
Yo, Mike, how about really combining creating jobs and making the most spectacular energy efficient public transportation system that makes the city cleaner greener smarter richer prettier friendlier busier but quieter and even tourist friendly. And all from one goal!

Philip Cohen
Congratulations on your primary victory.
A simple, inexpensive project which would make my life (and those of many others) more pleasant would be to expand and more clearly mark the bike lanes on city thoroughfares, and to increase the number of bike racks downtown. Philadelphia is a wonderful place to bike; please put some effort into making it safer and more convenient.
Thanks

Lucius Kwok
The one thing that needs to be done is to fix Philly's transportation mess. Not only is SEPTA dysfunctional and in denial about its own problems (on-time performance, maintenance and upgrades of its stations, and antiquated fare collection system, to name a few ), but also: roads and bridges that need repairs, enforcement of traffic and parking violations (especially when blocking a SEPTA bus or trolley), and PHL airport needs a major runway expansion to handle future growth.
Transportation is about getting people to jobs and to schools, expanding one's opportunities for economic and educational growth, resulting in less unemployment, reducing poverty and dependence on welfare, and less crime, because people who can't find legitimate work will turn to crime to make money. When more people work, more people see the value of a good education and demand better standards for their children and themselves from their schools and teachers, thus improving schools in ways that simply throwing more money at schools can't. Growth also means more representation in government, both at the state and federal levels, which ensures that public policy benefits us, instead of benefiting the rapidly expanding Sun Belt or the West.
Transportation is a regional issue, which means that Philadelphia must work with the suburban counties to form a regional partnership to decide transportation issues. A city Department of Transportation is a start, but I'd like the city to take a leadership role in creating a 5-county regional transportation district with the power to collect taxes and responsibility for all transportation: roads, transit, airport, and waterways. Rather than being in a cut-throat competition with the suburbs for jobs and residents, the city can be the master of its own destiny by being the leader in regional transportation issues.

Gilbert E Toll
There may be larger and more significant problems which may take years or even generations to solve, but the poor condition of International Airport can be readily addressed with little or no cost by appointing leadership with absolute integrity that will conduct an immediate audit/review to eliminate the no show jobs and phantom and/or no bid contracts that have been depleting the airport of maintenance funds. I am not talking about baggage and matters within the control of the airlines. I am talking about the shabby conditions throughout the terminals, overflowing trash, and disgusting bathrooms which have been getting less cleaning and repair even though they are getting more use from more passengers.

Jacob Belkin
As a Center City resident I have been spared the violence that ravages some neighborhoods. Therefore I can enjoy the luxury of moving on to an issue that affects me directly--SEPTA.
I am impressed with the Philadelphia public transportation system. The availability of public transportation has allowed me to sell my car and still enjoy opportunities throughout the area. However, I know that SEPTA is always operating on the edge of bankruptcy. I ask that you use all of your influence in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. to establish a permanent adequate funding source for SEPTA. In an age when energy conservation is a national security issue no level of government should be excused from investing in public transportation.

Joshua Machiz
I just visited San Francisco and noticed that about 90% of their buses are connected to the "trolley" electric lines and the backs of the buses say zero emissions vehicles. I also noticed that in Philadelphia we have miles and miles of trolley tracks and corresponding trolley electric lines that are unused.
What would it take for our city to implement these zero emissions buses? The great thing about these buses is that unlike a trolley, they have the ability to move at least 1 lane in either direction of the electric line so they can maneuver around obstacles.
I believe Seattle and Portland and many other west coast and European cities also have these buses. It is time to end the bio-diesel bus debate (which still pollutes a great amount) and start the zero emissions bus debate.

Pam
Congratulations on your primary victory - it's a very hopeful sign that Philadelphia is ready to address some of our most pressing challenges in thoughtful, creative new ways.
The one thing I'd recommend you address quickly is obtaining a dedicated source of funding for SEPTA. Without an affordable, reliable, and useful public transit system the City's economy will worsen (regardless of what happens with the tax situation), some people may be forced to leave their current jobs, and our environment will deteriorate too (more traffic congestion, more asthma, more land dedicated to ugly parking lots and garages).
This is a regional problem, and hopefully you can make common cause with leaders in the surrounding counties and approach Harrisburg as a team.
Thanks so much - we all look forward to great things in the next 8 years.

Tara
So one of the major problems I see holding back Philadelphia in more than just a few ways is the abomination that is SEPTA. I know most people view it as hopeless, but I would like to see this city’s mayor make an attempt to improve the major flaws with Philadelphia’s transportation system - somehow, some way. I moved here 5 years ago and I’m still in shock over how retarded it is. I’m sorry but there is no other word. It really and truly is. For the 5th major city (ha!), I can’t believe it has been tolerated this long. It literally hurts businesses and prevents growth and limits the mobility of residents who might actually explore new areas, spend money in new places and create industry where there is none. When you make it difficult to get to a particular area via public transportation, you only further isolate and alienate the people and places within that space. Jobs are affected, businesses are affected, and people grow more furious with each token dropped on an inadequate means of getting from point A to point B (God forbid there be a point C!).
My suggestions for areas that need be addressed:
a) MORE underground lines besides the orange, blue, and a handful of trolleys (what about the places in between (not regional) ???);
b) Metrocards (it’s about time, don’t cha think?);
c) Eliminate transfer charges (Why do we charge this at all?? What happens if I only want to switch if it’s an immediate change over? I can’t predict that, so I should be penalized for .60 if I’m wrong? Dumb.);
d) MORE places to actually buy the tokens (why is this so difficult? SEPTA limits the stations where you can buy tokens to a few major stations! Give me a break. I should be able to buy a fare anywhere and everywhere I ride. More machines. But I also heard they’re online now - hallelujah..);
e) And I think it goes without saying that frequency and routes need to be improved overall. Explain to me how, dear God, how - in the middle of “rush hour” I can still wait 25 minutes for one damn bus?
Anyone with the brains and guts to tackle this issue has my vote for the next two decades.
Get Philadelphia into the 21st century and we will build a statue in your honor.

Robert M Cohen, MD
I have had a pet beef with the City for YEARS. We do NOTHING to time our traffic lights. We pay a huge penalty to formulate all gas sold in the Delaware Valley so it will produce less smog - but we do not do this ONE THING which would greatly reduce vehicle emissions. The time ALL vehicles produce the highest emissions is when they are sitting still idling - such as while waiting for traffic lights to turn green! This is well known science. In addition, timing our lights would increase our quality of life. We have FAR too many traffic lights which CAUSE traffic jams where none would have occurred had the lights been properly times. Despite all this, I have had NO luck convincing the City to do anything about this. Even the Clean Air Council ignores this subject! Keeping traffic moving along at a slow but steady speed is the way to go. Thanks for listening.