MW03-Reimagining Regional Rail

A century-ago, two railroads built electrified commuter rail networks in Philadelphia. In the 1980s, SEPTA tied them together with a center city tunnel. As a result, Philadelphia has the best regional rail infrastructure in the US. It makes thousands of peoples’ lives better every day. Yet, it also leaves people behind. Take a firsthand look at two station areas to see how the system is and is not working. Start with a suburban town that grew up around its station. Then see a station in a dense urban neighborhood where residents take the bus even though the train is faster and more reliable. Find out about outreach tools used to reach people who are not riding and learn about plans to make the system more useful and accessible to more people with more frequent service, simpler schedules, lower fares and better integration with local transit. Also learn about the robust infrastructure that enables this service and how better service could reshape the city around the trains.
Note: This workshop is not ADA accessible.

Photo credit: SEPTA