June 13, 2008

SEPTA Police On Strike

Alert Philadelphia:

According to the Fraternal Order of Transit Police, SEPTA Transit Police Officer are officially on strike as of 3:15 PM this afternoon. The work stoppage centers on pay, benefit and contract issues. SEPTA reports that measures are in place to continue normal operations during the work stoppage including the use of SEPTA Police Commanders, Philadelphia Police and private security to ensure the safety of riders.

As additional information becomes available it will be forwarded via Alert Philadelphia.

I don't think this is cause for immediate alarm, but just in case everybody panic.

Posted by D-Mac at 04:02 PM | Comments (1)

May 29, 2008

SEPTA Google Maps Update

The SEPTA Google Maps hack recently updated to the new API, which adds a fun little search box in the corner so you can search for a bar or whatever and then find a SEPTA stop close to it. Neat!

Not-really-related, but also cool: Giant maps of Philadelphia.

[via Livejournal, where I also found this post]

Posted by D-Mac at 02:31 PM | Comments (1)

May 20, 2008

God Spotted Fixing Hair On SEPTA

Meet Eileen Button, columnist for the Davison Flagstaff Flint Journal Clio Messenger. I am guessing those are three separate papers, but who knows. Ms. Button recently took a trip to Philadelphia, and there she found God. Where, you say?

No, not the basilica or the Liberty Bell or Lincoln Financial Field. Not even at my place! Not, she found God on SEPTA. And he was... mouth-watering.

Recently, I found God as I rode the train from Center City Philadelphia to the city's airport. A young man boarded the train and took the seat in front of me. Although it was early morning, he smelled wonderfully like lunch in an ethnic restaurant - spicy, garlicky with a strong dose of Hungarian paprika.

Wikipedia says "paprika" comes from the Hungarian "paprika," so I did learn something here, albeit indirectly. I also now know that SEPTA will soon have an ad campaign quoting this column, encouraging riders to "Get there with God!"

Also: When people who smell sit near me on SEPTA, I blame the Devil.

He immediately began his morning routine as he rubbed oil into his hands and began styling his thick, curly black hair. I stared, mesmerized by his oblivious primping, and noticed how his hair fell onto the brown corduroy collar of his barn coat and framed his almost-black eyes and unshaven face.

I thought it was lovely - and that's where God entered in. Tears filled my eyes when I realized that God might watch us with that much curiosity, ardor and utter appreciation.

The column is about finding God in ordinary places. Fair enough. But: When I see people crying on SEPTA, I usually don't think that's God's doing. Now I know.

And, yes, that random link to centercityphila.org was in the original piece.

God can be found in the most unusual places, says Flint Journal columnist Eileen Button [mlive.com]
Thanks, RJ

Posted by D-Mac at 05:20 PM | Comments (3)

May 19, 2008

SEPTA Police Could Strike

And here's something that will make SEPTA even more exciting!

The police officers employed by Philadelphia's main transit agency are threatening to strike after working more than two years without a contract. Talks are scheduled Thursday between the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and the Fraternal Order of Transit Police, along with a state mediator.

SEPTA does not expect a strike, but "we would provide adequate security for our riders" should it happen, said agency spokesman Richard Maloney. City police and private security guards would be used, SEPTA officials said.

Eh, we'll all be okay, I think. Those SEPTA cops only make 30 grand a year starting salary -- what are they, bloggers? Okay, okay.

Transit Police Labor Dispute Could Lead To Strike [AP/NBC 10]

Posted by D-Mac at 12:06 PM | Comments (2)

SEPTA Riders Do Better Than SEPTA

Since SEPTA hates its customers -- a great Philadelphia tradition, I must add -- a couple enterprising chaps got together and created iSepta, a little tool for planning trips on one's iPhone or iPod touch.

The tool seems pretty neat -- my iPod touch is on the fritz and needs to be sent to Apple to be fixed, shockingly -- and should work pretty easily on any phone or similar browser which could use a pretty simple interface.

In the meantime, SEPTA will continue to tout its "happiness czar" as a sign of real progress.

iSepta
SEPTA riders to the rescue {SEPTA Watch]

Posted by D-Mac at 09:46 AM | Comments (1)

April 30, 2008

SEPTA Stands Firm Against Mommies

Hey, it's almost May, and we haven't had a drummed-up pointless controversy in a while. Hmm, hmm... ahh, here we go: It seems some transit agencies took down ads for Grand Theft Auto IV, already hailed as the greatest video game of all time. (I can't believe I don't have a system to play it on. I feel like crying.)

The supposed awesomeness of the game aside, SEPTA decided to accept ads for GTA IV; now SEPTA is defending its decision to keep the ads up. Not that anyone has complained or anything.

Septa officials would not be interviewed, but they issued a statement saying while some might consider the game offensive, "the advertisement is not." The ad campaign is slated to run for six weeks, with 350 posters on buses and other locations, generating $83,000 in revenue for Septa.

Septa last year was criticized for accepting ads for the movie "Hitman," ads featuring images of guns. The "Grand Theft Auto IV" ads show only the faces of three characters in the game and "Grand Theft Auto" logo.

Six weeks? Puh-leeze. SEPTA had an advertisement at Bridge Street for How Stella Got Her Groove Back (released in 1998) well into this decade. As a friend (okay, Chrissmari said to me online: "It's supposed to last 6 weeks but it'll be up for ages along with posters for Big Momma's House and last year's Jewish Career Fair." Exactly.

On the other hand, there was a noticeable drop in gun violence last year after SEPTA took down its ads for Hitman. Okay, maybe not.

Septa Defends "Grand Theft Auto IV" Bus Ads [KYW 1060]

Posted by D-Mac at 12:54 PM | Comments (3)

April 16, 2008

Use Your iPhone On The Subway

Earlier this week, AT&T announced it had secured an exclusive deal with SEPTA to allow its customers to use their cell phones while riding the underground portion of the El. Now when John Street rides on the subway, he can use his iPhone!

The deal is what it says, exclusive, so Verizon, T-Mobile and other customers are out of luck. As usual, SEPTA hates its customers. But that's okay; its hatred has served a higher purpose this time. Think about it: Do you really want people talking on cell phones on the El? It can only lead to bad things.

I salute SEPTA for only allowing customers of a certain cell phone carrier to talk on the El, and I further thank them for choosing AT&T, so we know which people have iPhones. We can then steal them. Awwright!

El riders can now use their cell phones underground {SEPTA Watch]

Posted by D-Mac at 12:26 PM | Comments (1)

April 10, 2008

No Free Rides For Beret-Wearing Men

The Guardian Angels have been patrolling SEPTA ever since a man was killed in the concourse a few weeks ago. And what a bang-up job they've been doing, with a two more attacks since the Angels started patrolling. (But not every attack was real!)

Of course, that's being unfair to the Angels; they might not even be patrolling at all. Daily News reporter Damon C. Williams writes Angels founder Curtis Silwa is nowhere to be found now that he's made his presence felt initially: "Curtis Sliwa seems to have disappeared during this recent crime wave, and commuters, interviewed live on various 5-and-11 p.m. newscasts, say they have yet to see any Angels really working in the subways, on the trains and platforms."

Yesterday, the Angels met with Police Commissioner Charles Ramsay and asked for free rides on SEPTA. Whoops: No dice. Ramsay said, "That's not my bailiwick." Bailiwick! Really? Anyway, SEPTA says they're not allowed to give free tokens to the Angels -- which, honestly, seems weird -- so I suppose they will have to disappear into the darkness. Until another dust-up in the city, when the Angels can announce they will be patrolling soon and everyone can report on it as if they haven't announced they'd be patrolling areas many times before.

Posted by D-Mac at 10:08 AM | Comments (4)

April 07, 2008

SEPTA Loves Your, Uh, Compliments

We receive positive letters at a 10 to one ratio, which is great.

That's a quote from the new president/CEO of SEPTA, Joe Casey. Yes, he says SEPTA -- SEPTA! -- receives 10 times more complimentary mail than it does hate mail.

Feel free to heap praise in a 10:1 ratio in the comments. Or, you know, however.

Joe Casey: SEPTA's New Master Conductor [The Bulletin]

Posted by D-Mac at 01:24 PM | Comments (7)

March 26, 2008

Man Beaten To Death In Concourse

PHILADELPHIA -- Police said a man was beaten to death during a fight on a SEPTA concourse in Center City Philadelphia.

The fight occurred Wednesday afternoon on the concourse, before the turnstiles, at 13th and Market streets, police said. One adult male was taken to Jefferson University Hospital but has been pronounced dead.

Police said homicide investigators have been summoned to the scene.

Cue the outcry and anger and people saying things need to change. I'll be over here.

Police: Man Dies After Fight On SEPTA Concourse [NBC 10]

Posted by D-Mac at 04:55 PM | Comments (12)

SEPTA Uses Only The Finest Materials

SEPTA Watch has posted an innovative way SEPTA is now displaying its schedules inside its stations. Good job, guys! Maybe with the money we saved on proper schedule posters, we can build that trolley down Delaware Avenue.

Is there nothing that duct tape can't fix? [SEPTA Watch]

Posted by D-Mac at 01:15 PM | Comments (2)

March 21, 2008

SEPTA: Our Buses Are First #1!

A reader sends in a scan of SEPTA's April TransPass. You will note SEPTA not only has "green" buses, but they are so green they needed a few extra modifying words to distinguish them from other trans agencies.

Thanks, RJ!

Posted by D-Mac at 09:58 AM | Comments (3)

March 18, 2008

Free SEPTA Rides, Courtesy Of Nature

The always-excellent SEPTA Watch posts this photo from the El stop on 40th Street. Much like the free rides when SEPTA runs shuttle buses to 40th Street, the "bathroom break" free rides at SEPTA are inexplicable and ridiculously gleeful when you get them.

But, hey, I suppose the money they lose on bathroom breaks is recouped by riders who have to pay with a five-dollar bill when it's all they have and the El is coming.

Where everyone can ride for free [SEPTA Watch]

Posted by D-Mac at 12:09 PM | Comments (1)

January 18, 2008

Amtrak Averts Strike; SEPTA Riders Exhale

Amtrak announced today it had reached an agreement with nine unions, averting a strike that would have angered way too many people in the suburbs.

Amtrak will apparently grant back wages to its workers worth $150 million, which the government will probably pay since Amtrak is run almost entirely on federal subsidies. However, $150 million for the government is absolutely nothing, so hooray, everybody wins!

Posted by D-Mac at 01:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

January 17, 2008

Amtrak To Screw Up Entire East Coast

Everything seems to be going pretty smoothly for SEPTA recently. The transit agency raised fares without any riots, it's planning to update to a smart card system for fare collection and it now has state money coming in. Nothing is that easy, though; SEPTA might have to shut down six regional rail lines due to a possible Amtrak strike beginning on Jan. 30.

The regional rail lines that run on Amtrak lines are: R1 Airport, R2 Newark, R5 Paoli, R6 Cynwyd, R7 Trenton and R8 Chestnut Hill West. (The Inquirer says it would affect 54,000 daily rail riders.) Similarly, NJ Transit would have to shut down its Northeast Corridor Line, which runs from Trenton to New York and is by far the best way to get into New York City. (SEPTA to NJ Transit to Penn Station. When I started college, this was actually pretty cheap, too!)

Continue reading "Amtrak To Screw Up Entire East Coast"

Posted by D-Mac at 04:02 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

December 18, 2007

Reader Starting To Sum Up Stories Pretty Efficiently

Google Reader
SEPTA considering ticket machines [Courier Times]

Posted by D-Mac at 11:58 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

December 07, 2007

SEPTA On Long, Endless Path To Go Sans Tokens

It's been a week since SEPTA said they were finally beginning to look at new card technology to replace tokens, and yesterday Metro had a nice little wrap-up of a ton of little facts about SEPTA and transit cards in general.

In short, it seems like this: By the time SEPTA finally introduces its smart card -- which will allow riders to simply zip through the turnstiles -- you probably won't live here anymore. Well, okay, you might still live here, but in Atlanta it took six years and $190 million to fully install the system. Translate that to Eastern Standard Philadelphia/SEPTA time, and you're looking at smart cards installed in Philadelphia sometime in the neighborhood of 2045.

But no matter! Although SEPTA estimates the system would cost somewhere between $130 and $190 million, officials both in the ATL and with PATCO said ridership increases should be able to offset any upgrade costs. Because PATCO is on a new industry standard, SEPTA could just use the same-style card and it could be used on both!

If this all sounds convenient and smart, you just figured out why you won't be seeing smart cards anytime soon.

Posted by D-Mac at 01:15 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

November 28, 2007

Ridiculously Nerdy/Fun Event Held At Ridiculous Time

They were going to hold it at 4 a.m. to be more convenient, but City Council Quizzo already had that time reserved.

Posted by D-Mac at 03:03 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

November 20, 2007

PATCO Begins Using Futuristic Moon Cards

This morning, PATCO began using new "smart cards" on its Philly-N.J. route, replacing the old magnetic-strip plastic the system has been using for years.

No! This simply cannot be done. After all, that's what SEPTA has been telling us since cards became the payment option of choice for most subway riders around the country. (This was sometime in 1955 or so.) PATCO's new system was delayed nearly a year due to software glitches, but now it offers a MetroCard-style pass that will apparently work through your purse or pocket, too.

Of course, it was expensive? Or something? And although SEPTA wants to have a new fare system in place within three or four years, they'd rather just do this: "[A]gencies may find it much cheaper to let the credit-card industry develop a smart credit card that pays for passage on their buses and trains.... One challenge is that many SEPTA riders don't have credit cards, so any system would need to accept cash, too."

Mark my words: When tokens are eliminated on SEPTA, humans will have had colonies on Mars for at least 30 years.

PATCO issues 'smart cards' [Inquirer]

Posted by D-Mac at 08:25 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

November 13, 2007

Movie Ads On Buses Upset Politicians

Hey, looks like Philadelphia has more in common with Wilmington than I originally thought. District Attorney Lynne Abraham and a Montgomery County lawmaker are angry at SEPTA for accepting ads for the movie Hitman on buses.

Although SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said the ad campaign is already over, Montco State Rep. Mike Vereb heard Abraham complaining about the bus ads and decided to let us know he's not only against guns, he's against guns with silencers: "We got rid of the Marlboro man years ago because cigarettes are bad for you. I submit to you that guns and guns with silencers are no better for you than cigarettes." If that's the thinking, then why is McDonald's allowed to advertise on the subway?

KYW 1060 reports Vereb "intends to work through the state district attorney's association to address his concerns through legislation." I applaud his actions. There shouldn't be any ads on buses except "VIGILANTE LAWYER." And Hitman, damn, that video game nearly caused a school shooting in the suburbs.

In other news, I plan on starting an online petition to force SEPTA to apologize for the ads from the 1999 Mel Gibson vehicle Payback.

SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney says the ad was part of a two-week national buy that ended last week. He says SEPTA carefully reviews all ads for sex, violence, and alcohol, and the transit agency did not deem the silhouetted figure of a man objectionable. Maloney says it reminded him of ads for one of the James Bond films, "The Man With the Golden Gun."

Although I do see the reference, I was thinking it was more like The Jazz Singer or maybe Pennsylvania Tunnel Excavation, equally recent films.

Posted by D-Mac at 03:42 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)

October 03, 2007

Breaking: Broad Street Line Shut Down

Due to police department activity, the Broad Street Subway is operating shuttle buses between Walnut/Locust and Pattison Stations.

Oh, yeah, "police department activity." Whatever the case, I'm gonna blame it on SEPTA's incompetence. Enjoy going to the game, everyone!

Update: Oh, it's a fire of some sort at Ellsworth-Federal. Whee!

SEPTA

Posted by D-Mac at 01:05 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

September 20, 2007

SEPTA Owns Philadelphia Once Again

Hey, remember a few months ago, when SEPTA got all that cash from Harrisburg, and everything was going to move swimmingly for the transit agency for a while, especially since transfers would not be eliminated?

Well, right. You knew this was coming. Since SEPTA wasn't allowed to eliminate transfers, it's going to raise fares a bit. Tokens will go from $1.30 to $1.45 and transfers will go from 60 cents to 75.

Metro's article about the rate hike contains this little back and forth between SEPTA and the city.

• “Our riders know what the best deals are,” Chief Ridership Officer John McGee Jr. said. “We’re getting e-mails from customers who said they won’t be buying passes.”
• “What do they believe are the majority and minority streets?” City Solicitor Romulo Diaz said. “I have never heard such a canard. The legal responsibility of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not protect routes. It protects people.”

Yes! The legal responsibility of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not protect routes! Take, that, Chief Ridership Officer! I still do want to know who are the people emailing SEPTA, sending snickering emails: "Hey jerks! I'm not going to buy any passes! I didn't have time to do a 'Leave Britney alone' parody video, so here's a LOLcat."

Take a HIKE [Metro]

Posted by D-Mac at 11:19 AM | Comments (16) | TrackBack (0)

August 21, 2007

Magic Object/Rock/Bullet Theories

KYW 1060:

A SEPTA bus was traveling south on 26th Street near Aspen Monday night around 9 o'clock when its driver heard a sound and felt a piece of glass hitting him. He stopped the bus and noticed that the driver's side window was broken.

Police say the driver suffered only a small scratch and did not require medical treatment. The driver told investigators he saw four teens approximately 13 to 16 years of age running north on 26th Street. Detectives say it appears they threw an object, possibly a stone at the bus while it was in motion.

6 ABC:

Philadelphia police are on the lookout for the group of teens that hurled rocks at a SEPTA bush and hurt the driver.

The rocks shattered the bus windshield, injuring the driver.

It happened at 26th and Aspen in Philadelphia's Fairmount section around 9 o'clock.

NBC 10:

A SEPTA bus came under fire in the Fairmount section of the city Monday night. Several bullets or BBs were fired at a bus at 26th and Aspen streets, police said.

The bus driver was hit by flying glass after windows were shattered by the shots. He was not badly hurt.

All together now: One of these things is not like the other...

Posted by D-Mac at 09:47 AM | Comments (14) | TrackBack (0)

August 06, 2007

The Court Decision Of The Century

Oh! Later today a judge will decide whether SEPTA is allowed to eliminate transfers, which Mayor Street says are used by kids going to one of the city's horrible public schools.

As you may remember, the judge issued an emergency stay of the elimination of transfers until today last week. This was probably so the judge could look over case law and figure out if SEPTA could get rid of 'em, but I'd like to think he spent his week just starting at a token and a transfer and nothing else.

SEPTA Board chairman Pat Deon argues that few riders actually use the transfers: :"My understanding is that it affects probably six percent of our riders, which are occasional riders."

My guess: A bunch of kids who "went to school" just spent their money on SEPTA novelties instead, like coasters and trading cards.

SEPTA Riders Brace For Ruling On Transfers [KYW 1060]

Posted by D-Mac at 10:29 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

August 02, 2007

Colt 45 Works Every... Every Other Time Or So

SEPTA has caved in to community activist and politician pressure and will be removing the giant Colt 45 bus wraps.

You see, lots of people have been spending time shutting down "stop and go" beer takeout joints and nuisance bars and whatever else, but if SEPTA has two buses with Colt 45 wraps, then all their hard work is for naught. You see how things are.

SEPTA said it has received $600 grand from alcohol advertising this year, but they probably would have wasted any extra money on SEPTA-branded trading cards and pogs anyway.

SEPTA Removing Malt Liquor Ads From Buses [CBS 3]

Posted by D-Mac at 10:31 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)