How Axios Philadelphia readers would improve SETPA
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Axios Philadelphia readers are not at a loss for ideas when it comes to improving SEPTA.
🧼 By the numbers: Making the system cleaner overall was the top vote-getter in our poll, receiving 20% of the 365+ votes cast. That was followed by:
- 🚆 17% of votes: More Regional Rail service
- 🚨 16%: Improve safety
- 🏗️ 15%: Expand metro lines to new areas
Catch up quick: SEPTA unveiled a long-term blueprint for overhauling the transit system earlier this week.
- The plan would modernize and upgrade trolleys, buses, train cars, tracks and stations while boosting service, frequency, accessibility and reliability.
Yes, but: The plan faces an unlikely future amid deep budget deficits and an unwillingness of state legislators to bail out SEPTA (at least up until this point).
🗣️ What you're saying: The general feeling from most responses to the poll could be summed up by one reader's comment:
- "SEPTA feels old and clunky, and Philadelphia deserves better."
🚲 Meanwhile, a consistent call among readers was for better bike infrastructure, including more secure bike racks, as well as separated and protected bike lanes.
📝 Here are some of our other favorite responses:
🚉 Add more dedicated bus lanes and install bus shelters everywhere.
🤏 Bus stop consolidation. It's annoying to have to walk a little further, but the buses would be so much faster.
⏱️ More service — say, every 20 minutes — to the 'burbs.
🆓 Make SEPTA free to ride.
🏗️ Build bus and trolley boarding islands on busy roads, like East Market Street and Baltimore Avenue.
🚉 Expand and extend rail service. Top suggestions included:
- King of Prussia
- West Chester
- Kennett Square
- Reading
- Pottstown
- Philly's Navy Yard
- Roosevelt Boulevard subway
♿ Improve station accessibility
🚻 Better restrooms
🧹 Clean up the garbage on the subway tracks