Archive for the 'public transit' Category

Open Letter #2: Senator Casey, Why Did You Vote Against Pennsylvania’s Infrastructure?

Senator Casey:
As I have discussed in previous emails and calls to your office, your decision to support the president’s extension of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans was a bad idea. I did not know that it actually endangered Pennsylvania residents however: why did you, a senator whose state is plagued with crumbling [...]

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Yet Another Open Letter to Ray LaHood

Dear Secretary LaHood:
Although I am disappointed that Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was not selected as one of the many states to receive rail funding rejected by the governors of Ohio, New Jersey, and Wisconsin, I must applaud your toughness in the face of extremist obstruction. Thank you for not only refusing to bend to the demands of [...]

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Open Letter: Still MORE Unused Transit Funding for Philadelphia

Dear Secretary LaHood and Mayor Nutter:
It seems only this past week, I wrote you both about diverting the $400 million for rail investments for Ohio, recently rejected by Governor-elect John Kasich, to Philadelphia. And it only seems like two weeks ago, I wrote to you requesting $3.38 billion in transit funds rejected by Governor [...]

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Another Open Letter to Ray LaHood

Dear Secretary LaHood and Mayor Nutter:
A few weeks ago, I wrote to both of you in support of using the $3.38 billion in ARC funds New Jersey Governor Chris Christie declined to fund necessary improvements to Southeastern Pennsylvania’s and Philadelphia’s public transit, including such items as implementing a smart card system, extending the Broad Street [...]

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Open Letter to U.S. secretary of transportation Ray LaHood

Posted by Brendan on October 29th, 2010 filed in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, SEPTA, calling bullshit, direct action, economy, environment, letters, public transit

Dear Secretary LaHood:
As a resident of Philadelphia, PA, a city affected with nearly 10% unemployment and decrepit transit infrastructure, I read your October 29th guest editorial in the New Jersey Star-Ledger with deep interest. I share your disappointment in Governor Christie’s decision to kill the ARC project: I believe the decision was foolish, driven [...]

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PATCO Proposed Waterfront Expansion

Posted by Brendan on September 25th, 2009 filed in Philadelphia, public transit, youtube

Even with the audio broken, this computer simulation of the proposed public transit waterfront expansion is really cool.

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More proof that the Wingnuts are Stupid

As if you needed anymore proof, here the opponents of government run programs complain about having to use the free market, which they typically claim is preferable:
A Texas congressman sent a letter Wednesday to Metro General Manager John B. Catoe Jr. demanding an explanation for why the transit agency didn’t do more to prepare for [...]

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SCHLEPTA

Posted by Brendan on June 2nd, 2009 filed in BAH, Philadelphia, SEPTA, nincompoopery, plain pitiful, public transit

Last night I rode SEPTA regional rail for the first time in a few years. It wasn’t really by choice: my car broke down and I had to get out to Narberth to pick with the Dill Pickles. My buddy Nik said that once you get on the train it takes about 15 minutes [...]

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Trolleys

Posted by Brendan on June 25th, 2008 filed in Philadelphia, public transit, youtube

Via Andrew Chalfen, here’s some footage of Philadelphia trolleys dating to the 1950s.
The first video features the West Philadelphia trolleys and the El. At this time I believe none of the est Philly tunnels had been built yet, so there are some great scenes of the trolleys circling 30th Street Station and cruising past the [...]

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Compare and Contrast

Posted by Brendan on June 24th, 2008 filed in BAH, public transit

YOO ESS AYY! YOO ESS AYY:
Next to Jim Cade’s auto body shop in West Philadelphia, an Amtrak retaining wall is crumbling into his parking lot.
Eight feet away, Amtrak and SEPTA trains rush past on the busy line that runs through the Main Line toward Paoli and Harrisburg.
“People ride by every day and have no idea [...]

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