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 and let us know what you think.

In our news roundup…
Scooters, a look at the origins of light rail in Pittsburgh, a car with eyes like a muppet, an ode to the end of paper transfers and a new study suggests that ride sharing is worsening congestion.

There’s a clear relationship between transit use and reduced traffic deaths. So why do federal safety efforts ignore it?

Streetcar, bus, and metro systems have been ignoring one lesson for 100 years: Service drives demand.

Turns out there’s a lot of latent demand for a quick and cheap way to get around.

Why did Pittsburgh only create light rail for the South Hills? Why was it never created in other suburbs? The answer is a mix of transit history, geography, and money.

Public transportation data app Transit, which uses crowdsourcing to give you real-time arrival estimates, is now covering the Philly region.

In hopes of helping a wary public gain trust in self-driving vehicles, Jaguar Land Rover tests an autonomous pod that makes eye contact with pedestrians.

NJ Transit still may miss the deadline for a federally mandated safety system.

The Boston suburb of Revere takes on Pittsburgh. Both bus stops put you in touch with nature — in a bad way.

The people who drive the least, suffer the most.

A new report by Bruce Schaller suggests that ride hailing services are adding to overall traffic on city streets, and risk making urban cores less desirable places to live.

The company wants you to be able to pay the same amount for your most used route no matter the time of day.

Paper transfers officially ended yesterday, July 31, and while many people have embraced this change, one Philadelphian took to Reddit to post, “An ode to paper transfers (RIP).”

And they might reach out to chat, totally unprovoked.

Pedestrians, bicyclists, and one pup named Bizzy braved the heat of the last Tuesday in August to take a customized tour of the area surrounding Philadelphia’s new Rail Park.

Kelli McIntyre stood in light rain on Germantown Avenue, holding a clipboard and watching as car after car ignored a “Do Not Enter” sign and turned up a small street called Ashmead Place.

Including a history scavenger hunt, jazz festival, and pop-up beach.

Louis J. Gambaccini, a former general manager of SEPTA and the first chairman of New Jersey Transit’s board, died at his home in Skillman,…

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 open house approach (see below).

Do you have ideas on how transportation professionals can better communicate with the public — either on particular projects or on big challenges like the need for funding? Hit reply and let us know.

In our news roundup…
Two perspectives on whether ride sharing is causing more congestion, a thoughtful article that explains the challenges to upgrading water infrastructure, kudos to SEPTA on Positive Train Control, and an architect’s vision of modular streets for Google’s Sidewalk Toronto project.

Public planning meetings can be contentious, to say the least. Randy LoBasso would know. As the communications director for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater…

Where are you most likely to be killed by a car in Philadelphia? (Hint: Not Center City)  Philly.comFull coverage

SEPTA explains how it got Positive Train Control up and running before almost any other railroad in the country.

When a broken water main sent 15 million gallons surging into Center City streets, public attention was riveted by scenes of pedestrians sloshing along…

Throughout the past few years, the explosive growth of ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft have changed the landscape of urban transportation.

Cities have been congested and transit has been poorly used for years before ride-hailing companies set up shop.

Lake Erie Cyclefest is collaborating this week with Erie’s Blues & Jazz Festival.

Allentown has secured some grant funding to finally begin the process of building a trail connecting Center City to the West End and Jordan Park. Design is underway for several pieces, and some money has been secured for construction.

On the 11th floor of a Center City office building, Rian Franks and Jacqueline Chapman sit just a few feet away from each other.…

Why does the Philadelphia Parking Authority exist? This isn’t just the lament of drivers filled with the kind of rage that can only be…

“We take mixed waste, which is hard to process, and turn it into a gray fluffy solid.”

An aggressive rule set by the Obama administration in 2012 called for increasing fuel economy standards to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

The Hub of Hope ‘Living Room’ is a place where Center City’s homeless population can drop their belongings and their burdens and breathe, even just for a few hours.

Architect Carlo Ratti envisions modular streets that can morph to meet the everyday needs of a neighborhood

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 licenses but are Uber and Lyft winning their loyalty over transit? Riders are happy with service at the Port Authority but ridership isn’t growing. And in Cincinnati riders try to build support for increasing funding while Republicans in California try to roll back a gas tax increase and the GOP House proposes more taxes on transit and bikes. Lastly, don’t miss a great article on the history of Suburban Station.

Uber and Lyft are becoming more popular modes of travel than buses, but in the process they’re congesting our cities and overwhelmingly serve the urban wealthy, a new study finds.

Good news for public transportation riders in Pittsburgh.

When presenting a plan, I’ll sometimes be asked to count bus routes. How many bus routes change in the plan? How many bus routes still go into the urban core? These questions have nothing to do with the quality or quantity of transit service.

With the population of Phoenixville and the five townships which surround projected to nearly double by 2045, one thing seems certain — traffic isn’t going to get any lighter any time soon.

London has reduced traffic deaths nearly 50 percent in the last decade, but Mayor Sadiq Khan isn’t satisfied.

The bill would amount to a tax increase of more than $200 million annually on American transit agencies.

The tax is under threat of repeal from a November ballot measure that has energized the state’s moribund Republican Party.

Fed up with county representatives hostile to transit, advocates are fighting to give the city more resources and a stronger say in transit policy.

SEPTA is urging passengers to adopt the SEPTA Key Card ahead of upcoming changes to its services in August.

The Port Authority of Allegheny County’s board of directors hired a firm to perform engineering work for its Bus Rapid Transit project Friday. The authority …

Fewer and fewer teens are getting their drivers’ licenses every year, studies show. The reasons vary, but come down to opportunity, cost, and motivation.

After nearly 50 years, it’s the dawn of a new era for two of Pennsylvania’s busiest roads — and the end of a very different one.

Why a train station in the heart of Philly has “suburban” in its name.

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 public support needed to make that happen?

Congratulations to our own Jennie Granger on her appointment as PennDOT’s Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation! Although she will no longer serve on the PenTrans board, Jennie will be a great advocate for public transportation at PennDOT.

“I look forward to continuing PennDOT’s Multimodal legacy of working with transit agencies across the state to deliver service efficiently and effectively,” says Jennie. “With our transit agencies offering more than 400 million rides a year, our residents count on all of us to continue to meet their mobility needs day in and day out. I also look forward to working with all of our partners as we deliver mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists and through our support for passenger and freight rail and aviation.”

On a programming note, we are still working on a new date for our rescheduled breakfast panel. Stay tuned!

A new SEPTA bus network could be in place in two to three years.

Port Authority and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority are working with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to plan the future of …

To boost ridership, SEPTA considers dropping $1 transfer fee

The new president of the New York City Transit Authority wants to make the trains (and buses) run on time. It won’t be easy.

In communities across the country, the billionaire conservatives are waging a sophisticated fight against new rail projects and bus routes.

Is this the future of transportation funding in America?!?
Domino’s Pizza is hoping to save pizzas by filling in potholes in towns across the U.S. with a new “Paving for Pizza” initiative.

Can states afford Trump’s infrastructure plan?

A national report estimates the cost of an aging public transportation infrastructure

What’s next for the transit agency? Securing $6 billion in funding for much-needed improvements and expansion.

Transit Is ‘A Human Right’ And ‘Civil Right.’ Port Authority CEO Reflects On Her First Few Months

Port Authority goes back to drawing board on BRT options  Pittsburgh Business TimesPort Authority begins new round of eastern neighborhood meetings on service changes  Pittsburgh Post-GazetteFull coverage

How the 1970s oil crisis precipitated bad street design that endangers people to this day.

We must work to make Roosevelt Boulevard safe.

An analysis of news headlines in Canada identified rhetorical patterns that deflect culpability from drivers.

Parking Tickets From SEPTA? Cameras on Buses May Crack Down on Drivers Parked in Bus Stops  NBC 10 PhiladelphiaCars are blocking bus stops everywhere in Philly. The PPA has a simple fix

How City Hall is addressing delivery truck traffic in Philadelphia

Extending the Broad Street Subway to the Navy Yard would cost upwards of $380 million more than originally anticipated

Plans for Harrisburg Transportation Center could bring big improvements to city: PennDOT

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 panel on June 5!), what would you ask? Hit reply to let us know!

Lots of great questions will be posed to our PenTrans breakfast panel:

*Barry Seymour, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

*Ken McClain, PennDOT District Executive, District 6
*Rich Burnfield, SEPTA Deputy General Manager/Treasurer

*Chris Puchalsky, Office of Transportation & Infrastructure Systems for the City of Philadelphia

*Nick Frontino, Economy League
Moderator: Patti Gibson, WTS Philadelphia and Envision Consultants

Your questions will help identify the most pressing topics facing Philadelphia and Pennsylvania for further exploration at future PenTrans events.Thanks to our event sponsors!
Portfolio Associates
AECOM
McCormick Taylor
HDR

What’s our aging transportation infrastructure costing the economy?  — Philly.com

Your standard SEPTA bus comfortably seats 40 passengers, with standing room for many more. The typical 150 bus carries less than four. The direct…

On the street where Peter Javsicas was killed, construction for Protected Bike Lane Trial Begins in Center City  –Philadelphia magazine

Self-driving Ubers to return in Pittsburgh: What we know (and what we don’t)  — The Incline

At a City Council hearing on SEPTA’s budget, Councilman Allan Domb floated a bold proposal that will make him a hero to some and…

Admit it, Philly: Protected bike lanes would’ve saved Pablo Avendano | Ronnie Polaneczky —  Philly.com

The response to proposed bus route changes — planned in conjunction with a proposed new Bus Rapid Transit loop  — have been “overwhelmingly positive,” says Adam Brandolph, a spokesman for the transit agency.

Despite laws against using a hand-held phone or similar device, a new report shows that people are not putting down their phones.

A radical idea to build a five-a-side pitch into an Atlanta subway station is enlivening once-dead plaza space while bringing the sport to underserved communities – and more are on the way

Co-Chairs
Beverly A. Harper, Portfolio Associates, Inc.
Thomas J. Spearing III, HNTB

Secretary
Richard Bickel, Consultant

Treasurer
Jeff Roken, Urban Engineers

Peter Angelides, Econsult Solutions
Jill Bolt, Consultant
Lisa Brozey, AECOM
Katie Carver, McCormick Taylor
L. Bert Cossaboon, McCormick Taylor
Edward D’Alba, Urban Engineers
Alex Doty, PA for Transit
Patti Gibson, WTS
Jennie Granger, JMT
Joseph Guzzi, HNTB
Jeff Hans, HDR
Devonne Jackson, COMTO
Marilyn Jamison, Michael Baker Corp.
Adam Krom, Amtrak
John McGee, LTK
Marc Preim, STV, Inc.
Anna Lynn Smith, WSP
Mark Stout, Mark Stout Consulting
David Thompson, Jacobs
Richard Voith, Econsult Solutions

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 strengthen communities, is also evolving with new technology and the resurgence of density.

How do we pay for transportation? And how do we make smart investments that maximize mobility and prepare us for a bright future?

These will be the topics for discussion on June 5 at the next PenTrans breakfast panel discussion in Philadelphia. Join us as we identify the most pressing topics facing Philadelphia and Pennsylvania for further exploration at future PenTrans events.

With an eye on our panel discussion, our links in this newsletter spur thinking on the future of transportation.

Tuesday, June 5
8:00 am to 10:00 am at the Racquet ClubJoin us for a discussion with our panel, including:

Barry Seymour, DVRPC
Chris Puchalsky, Office of Transportation & Infrastructure Systems for the City of Philadelphia

Rich Burnfield, SEPTA Deputy Managing Director

Nick Frontino, Pennsylvania Economy League

Thank you to Portfolio Associates for signing up as our first sponsor of this event! For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Alex Doty (215-239-4749 or info@pentrans.org).

SEPTA officials laid the groundwork for upcoming budget battles on Thursday, releasing an economic impact study that frames the transit agency as a critical cog in the region’s economy and profitable…

PPA executive director: Adding 50-cent surcharge to Ubers will send more money to the School District | Opinion  Philly.comFull coverage

Truckers’ demand for $6B in toll refunds would cause fiscal catastrophe, Pa. Turnpike Commission says  PennLive.comFull coverage

by Christopher Yuen With only a handful of exceptions, transit ridership has stagnated or been falling throughout the US in 2017.  The causes of this slump have been unclear but some theories suggest low fuel prices, a growing economy fueling increased car ownership, and the increasing prevalence of ride-hailing services are the cause. A few …

PennDOT announces new autonomous vehicle guidelines  Pittsburgh Business TimesFull coverage

In 2008, Pennsylvania had more than 6,000 state-owned bridges rated ‘structurally deficient.’ Today, that number has been cut in half, to 3,098, including repairs and …

The jobs are in the suburbs, but many Philadelphians have no way to get there. The Philadelphia Unemployment Project has the answer: Car pooling

“Could I have the ‘transportation guru’ come up to the table, please?” That’s how Council President Darrell Clarke called Deputy Managing Director of the…

The Greenlining Institute, an Oakland-based nonprofit, released a report today describing a three-step framework that can be used to help communities figure out which transportation investments best serve their needs.

Do you want to learn about the future of public transit in the Pittsburgh area?

Co-Chairs
Beverly A. Harper, Portfolio Associates, Inc.
Thomas J. Spearing III, HNTB

Secretary
Richard Bickel, Consultant

Treasurer
Jeff Roken, Urban Engineers

Peter Angelides, Econsult Solutions
Jill Bolt, Consultant
Lisa Brozey, AECOM
L. Bert Cossaboon, McCormick Taylor
Edward D’Alba, Urban Engineers
Alex Doty, PA for Transit
Patti Gibson, WTS
Jennie Granger, JMT
Joseph Guzzi, HNTB
Jeff Hans, HDR
Devonne Jackson, COMTO
Marilyn Jamison, Michael Baker Corp.
Adam Krom, Amtrak
John McGee, LTK
Marc Preim, STV, Inc.
Anna Lynn Smith, WSP
Mark Stout, Mark Stout Consulting
David Thompson, Jacobs
Richard Voith, Econsult Solutions

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 lanes will be piloted on JFK and Market, which may tempt some to label this a special facility for bicyclists. But by calming traffic on a very wide street these lanes will make all of us — motorists, pedestrians, transit users and bicyclists — safer.

At PenTrans, we want to find sensible transportation solutions. That is the work that Peter dedicated himself to. We are thankful that Mayor Kenney and OTIS have worked diligently on finding a solution for making JFK and Market safer.

On the street where Peter Javsikas was killed, the city is taking action to increase safety. A lane reduction will clear up space for parking-protected bike lanes, a wish list item for street safety advocates.

Here’s what went into creating Philly’s first new bus route in almost a decade  Philly.comSEPTA ends token sales April 30, urges riders to switch to Key  Daily Local NewsFull coverage

Government generally needs to listen more and spend less time telling people what to do. The new Port Authority CEO, Katharine Eagan Kelleman, has made a …

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said he will be making a “major statement” about New Jersey Transit in his budget address.

Funding Pennsylvania State Police with transportation dollars is once again an issue.

Studies lift congestion fog over role of Uber, Lyft  The Philadelphia TribuneFull coverage

The state is funding the $35.7 million move to an intelligent transportation system, which will include real-time ride tracking as well as security upgrades.

Michelle Schultz, deputy general counsel at SEPTA, is one of two new appointments to the Surface Transportation Board.

Runners challenged to race SEPTA’s route 45 bus  PhillyVoice.comFull coverage

Aer Lingus Takes off from Philadelphia International  TravelPulseIrish carrier Aer Lingus’ first flight arrives at PHL  Philadelphia Business JournalAer Lingus Connects Philly With Ireland  NBC 10 PhiladelphiaFull coverage

Co-Chairs
Beverly A. Harper, Portfolio Associates, Inc.
Thomas J. Spearing III, HNTB

Secretary
Richard Bickel, Consultant

Treasurer
Jeff Roken, Urban Engineers

Peter Angelides, Econsult Solutions
Jill Bolt, Consultant
Lisa Brozey, AECOM
L. Bert Cossaboon, McCormick Taylor
Edward D’Alba, Urban Engineers
Alex Doty, PA for Transit
Patti Gibson, WTS
Jennie Granger, JMT
Joseph Guzzi, HNTB
Jeff Hans, HDR
Devonne Jackson, COMTO
Marilyn Jamison, Michael Baker Corp.
Adam Krom, Amtrak
John McGee, LTK
Marc Preim, STV, Inc.
Anna Lynn Smith, WSP
Mark Stout, Mark Stout Consulting
David Thompson, Jacobs
Richard Voith, Econsult Solutions