SEPTEMBER 20 ROUNDUP How do complex infrastructure systems work? If we are going to make the case for adequate funding, we need to do a better job of describing the challenge. We highlight two approaches in this roundup: *Plan Philly opens with, "It is a miracle that Philadelphia works at all." *"Who's Next" profiles the … Continue reading Who Makes a City Go?
Safety First! Then you should be riding transit
SEPTEMBER 7 ROUNDUP Cars are sold on their safety features even as 40,000 people were killed on US roads in 2017. Why isn't transit marketed as the safest way to travel? Is that a solid argument for funding increased service (which might be the key to inducing demand)? Read the lead articles in our roundup … Continue reading Safety First! Then you should be riding transit
Yelling at engineers is not the solution
AUGUST 16 ROUNDUP How do planners and engineers better communicate with the public? That's a question that has come up often in recent PenTrans board meetings. I'm sure many readers can relate to a planning meeting description Randy LoBasso gave to PlanPhilly, "It was an engineer-gets-up-in-front-of-a-crowd-and-explains-as-best-he-can-and-the-crowd-gets-up-and-yells-at-him sort of thing.” OTIS is having success with an … Continue reading Yelling at engineers is not the solution
Counting bus routes and how “Suburban Station” got its name
AUGUST 16 ROUNDUP As SEPTA prepares to take on a bus network redesign, it might be helpful to follow the thinking of the architect of that plan: Jarrett Walker. In a recent post (see below), he discusses measuring service hours rather than number of bus routes. In our news roundup... Fewer teens are getting driver's … Continue reading Counting bus routes and how “Suburban Station” got its name
SEPTA Bus Network Redesign, Congratulations to Jennie Granger
JULY 11 ROUNDUP SEPTA has taken an important step towards a bus network redesign with the release of the Walker Bus Network Choices Report. The success of transit in Philadelphia will depend on extensive planning and coordination by the City and SEPTA -- and ultimately suburban municipalities and the state. How will we build the … Continue reading SEPTA Bus Network Redesign, Congratulations to Jennie Granger
Asking questions about our transportation future
MAY 24 ROUNDUP We need to make significant investments in transportation in Pennsylvania but we can't win any campaign for more funding unless we make a compelling case. Making that case begins by asking questions about what we need. If you could ask a question of a panel of thought leaders in transportation (like our … Continue reading Asking questions about our transportation future
What Transportation Future, Greater Philadelphia?
MAY 7 ROUNDUP Continued investment in our transportation infrastructure is key to creating jobs and growing the economy in Pennsylvania. That’s been the core message of PenTrans since our founding. But the way that transportation will be funded is more uncertain than ever. And what the best transportation projects would be to increase mobility, and … Continue reading What Transportation Future, Greater Philadelphia?
Vision Zero Comes to Market and JFK
MARCH 30 ROUNDUP It was a very sad day when Peter Javsicas was killed by a car while walking on the sidewalk on JFK Boulevard. At the Bicycle Coalition’s Vision Zero Conference earlier this month, Mayor Kenney announced steps the City is taking to make JFK and Market Street safer (see article below). Protected bike … Continue reading Vision Zero Comes to Market and JFK