Looking to get into the city without getting stuck in traffic? Chronically online to the point where you need to take out your phone while driving??? A danger to your surroundings? Well, then you might have an undiagnosed case of: TAKE THE TRAIN!
Unbelievable. 76 West over an HOUR delay due to construction only 1 Lane at Montgomery Drive. It’s 915pm. Wonder why no one comes into the city for dinner anymore??
YAC FACT: Did you know that the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) is currently working on restoring rail service between Philadelphia and Reading? This corridor could be operating within the next 5-6 years and have an estimated 1.5-1.8 million annual riders!
RAIL NEWS: The Lehigh Valley Passenger Rail Study has been released by Penndot! This study completed a preliminary examination of possible corridors between Allentown and Philadelphia, New York City, and Reading. 🧵
Here's a visual explainer thread (by council member
@pixelyunicorn
) with everything you need to know about SEPTA Metro: the major branding & design changes coming to Philly's rail transit network! 🧵
(1/12)
The Roosevelt Blvd Subway should be the recipient of multiple federal grants under the Infrastructure Bill! It is a project that has such high potential for ridership!
Is it safe to say that
@SEPTA
kinda crushed
@WMATA
with these new fare gates?? Ours will look much cooler when implemented across the system. Sorry DC!
An excellent time-lapse of the crowds from two concerts at Olympic Park being taken home by train.
North Americans obsessed with stadium parking please take note
REMEMBER: Paris has had stagnant population growth for years. Despite this they are investing heavily into a new rapid transit ring called the Grand Paris Express. Don't ever let anyone use this as an excuse to not invest in and expand SEPTA.
Are you as excited as we are! This is Drexel Station at 30th Street with brand new upgraded wayfinding. New signs are coming to the rest of the system and soon. Be on the lookout! Great job
@SEPTA
!
Roses are red
Violets are blue
If you get stuck driving in traffic
The problem is partly you
Don't be part of the problem, take
@SEPTA
to the
#PhiladelphiaFlowerShow
, they will be running extra regional rail service:
YAC FACT: Did you know that from the year 2018 to 2022, SEPTA awarded 1.15 BILLION in contracts to businesses in Pennsylvania? This averages out to an annual investment of $231 million per year. Today, we wanted to highlight SEPTA’s importance to the whole state.
Imagine, after the
@BlvdSubway
, RRR and Trolley Mod, SEPTA continues improving connectivity. Shown here are those changes plus: two Ridge Ave subways, infill stations on RRR SilverLine corridors, El extension up and down Front, PATCO to Upper Darby and 49th/B'more, 56/G trolleys
These letters were deliberately chosen for their ability to transcend language. These may be hard to accept at first but the choices made were good. Choosing a long name for a line is not going to help new or old users who don't understand english to navigate the system.
Service cuts and fare increases are likely to lead SEPTA toward a bleak future. It doesn't have to be this way though. Reach out to your local representatives, including
@JoshShapiroPA
to express your support for funding SEPTA. Also, reach out to the YAC to learn how you can help
Disturbed by the news of SEPTA considering major service cuts due to inaction from Harrisburg. It's imperative that we secure more state funding to keep our transit systems running effectively and reliably.
#FundPublicTransit
Peek the Californians finally getting a taste of what SEPTA has had for decades. Let's not forget how lucky we are to have an EXPANSIVE and ELECTRIFIED Regional Rail system connecting all of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Just imagine what Reimagining Regional Rail could bring.
That's what we LOVE TO SEE! SEPTA METRO will slowly be incorporated into the vernacular of every day Philadelphians. The L, G, B, T, D, and M are here to stay.
This will hopefully be accompanied by an increase in car free visitors at 30th Street Station that will need reliable transit to make it to their final destination. SEPTA must be ready to step up!
We know you love trains. How about even more trains?
Starting today, Amtrak is adding more daily departures on Northeast Regional!
This results in:
- 20% increase in weekday service
- 10% in Sunday service
- Additional capacity of 1MM+ seats per year on the Northeast Regional
I’m pleased to announce $317 MILLION in federal funding for SEPTA to buy about 200 new rail cars to replace its older rail cars operating on the Market Frankford Line!
I’ve proudly voted for the Biden Infrastructure and Jobs Act and other transit funding bills!
Thank you Gov. Shapiro. And thanks to anyone who called their representatives! This likely wouldn't have happened without a demonstration of support from us constituents.
A next important step, as the Gov. states, is urging local counties to increase fund matching.
That includes a major investment in SEPTA — the funding needed to avoid immediate service cuts or fare increases.
As part of this proposal, I’ve insisted SEPTA double down on efforts to address safety and cleanliness. I’m also engaging with the five counties who rely on and
Project metro is only the first initiative in SEPTA’s pipeline. Trolley Modernization will seek to revitalize the T lines with new cars, faster trips, line extensions, and ADA platforms at all stops. If you’re curious, learn more here:
does this not feel at some level embarrassing when the original R system was going to bring around a transformational regional rail system and this is just, y'know, a rebrand
So much for flower show today. Next time I will take
@SEPTA
because there are no parking spots , and garages are full w/i blocks of the convention center. I was only planning to go for an hour (I have so much work) so I didn’t want to park further away. I’ll try tomorrow.
Penn should go a step further and enroll in SEPTA Key Advantage! Free SEPTA passes for all students would make commuting safer, save students money, and reduce cat traffic on the road.
Penn has increased the discount it provides to commuters and introduced a new easy-to-use commuter benefits platform in order to make commuting more affordable as well as to encourage sustainable transit to and from campus.
SEPTA must follow WMATA’s lead on its path to restoring ridership to pre-pandemic levels. WMATA has been improving service by consistently increasing frequencies and improving ridership experience. Let’s learn from their success and push SEPTA to do more.
BREAKING NEWS 🗣️ February saw 771,000 weekday trips on Metrorail & Metrobus combined - a 20% increase from Feb ‘23. Plus, weekend ridership has FULLY recovered! See how we’re rolling full speed ahead in March with a record-breaking first week! 🚇🚍📈
#wmata
Everyone should ask their employer about SEPTA Key Advantage. A great program that offers significantly discounted transit passes to employees in the Philadelphia area.
Time to implement Bus Revolution. This study shows that access to jobs, supermarkets, and other essential community hubs will remain similar to before if not improve slightly. Add to this the increased frequency on many routes and it seems SEPTA has made the best of what it has.
SEPTA’s Bus Revolution aims to streamline bus routes to boost reliability and ease of use.
Despite critics’ concerns, a new study says the overhaul won't exacerbate inequalities.
YAC FACT: Did you know that SEPTA plans to start rolling out new signage at their stations this year? As part of SEPTA Metro, SEPTA will be replacing old signs with a new, accessible, and standardized system of wayfinding to make navigation easier for all riders!
SEPTA Metro is a well-needed redesign of the wayfinding system. Station names and directions becoming more intuitive will help new and current riders get around Philly easier!
YAC FACT: Did you know SEPTA is revamping its bus network? Bus Revolution will be voted on by SEPTA’s board this Thursday. The meeting will be open to public comment so go and show your support! Approval will lead to implementation of the new network starting this summer.
YAC FACT: Did you know that SEPTA offers a UPASS program for Universities in Philadelphia? The YAC discussed the expansion of the UPASS program to
@TempleUniv
with William from
@CleanAirCouncil
on Tuesday. Temple students, please sign their petition to demand UPASS NOW! 🧵
Atlanta is investing in 4 new
@MARTAtransit
stations. Will Philadelphia just sit idly by while
@SEPTA
is forced to fight for its life every few years? Break the cycle and give SEPTA the money it needs to increase service and expand.
Were all these routes to be implemented, Southeastern Pennsylvania could be one of the most integrated regions in terms of passenger rail infrastructure in the country. Especially if local transit agencies
@SEPTA
,
@LANTALV
, and
@bartabus
are given the funding to improve service.
Sleek new fare gates have been installed at 69th street. SEPTA hopes this will lower the amount of fare evasion on their system. They will study the effectiveness of the gates before expanding the pilot to other stations. Let us know what you think about them!
Check it out! Installation is underway for 20 of these new fare gates at the entrances to the Market-Frankford Line and Norristown High Speed Line at 69th Street Transportation Center. [1/4]
With such a beautiful, renovated station, it's such a shame that
@DrexelUniv
students don't have access to the UPASS program SEPTA offers.
@drexelUSGA
let's talk about how we can change that. It's time to put this station to good use.
Vibes on my SEPTA commuter rail train are chill, as usual.
I can't believe it ever became a point of contention among progressives about whether working class transit riders on subways and buses should have the same right to travel around Philadelpia in such a calm atmosphere.
April Fools day is such a horrible day for Transit Advocates. Today we are given a glimpse into the world that could be, only to be reminded that these April Fools jokes are just that, jokes. Log on at your own risk today.
#BREAKING
#EXCLUSIVE
In a rare Monday announcement the DRPA says they plan to DOUBLE current bridge toll prices.
‘We believe congestion pricing is necessary to combat global warming and we will follow the lead recently set by the MTA,’ says DRPA CEO John Hanson.
(1/2)
Do you see your college/university on one of these maps? If so, your college would be a great candidate for adopting
@SEPTAKey
Advantage. Ask your school to provide complimentary SEPTA passes for students! Send us a DM for more information or to schedule a meeting with us!
"Still, this new funding infusion alone will not save public transportation in the region. Indeed, it will only allow SEPTA to maintain a status quo that already fails to deliver the kind of high-quality service Philadelphians deserve."
This is correct. While it's good to applaud the steps SEPTA is taking to improve the transit experience, it is important to understand that SEPTA is not yet where it needs to be. Looking to other systems should only serve to motivate transit advocates to continue their fight.
meanwhile on septa, we're stuck with led screens from last century that only sometimes work
oh, and if you're a broad street line rider, you get nothing
Reaching out to your representatives is an important power we often forget we have. Please reach out to your representatives to ask that they provide SEPTA with adequate funding before the Spring!
"I wrote to my state rep, and she enacted a new Pa. law," writes Keren Sofer.
"My resolution for the new year is to continue to speak up and engage with my representatives in government... Change is possible."
Does
@SEPTA_SOCIAL
have plans to put bollards around the station? Given what happened at Allegheny station 2 years ago I’d think bollards would be the standard for any station upgrade plans
Read the full SEPTA Metro proposal and tell the planning team what you think (good/bad/etc) at ! 📙
We're really excited to see this come together, and we'd love it if you could help us get the word out by sharing this thread with your friends! 💛
This could be big for the future of the M. It's great to see SEPTA trying to live up to the true meaning of Metro. Frequency is king when it comes to transit ridership and higher frequencies and speeds mean lower waiting times for everyday users.
New SEPTA posting for nebulous signaling renovation for the P&W that's been coming up. They were supposed to look at this as part of KOP Rail but now its a separate project
Interesting points are the introduction of a 70 mph speed code, and the potential for future automatic ops
YAC FACT: Did you know that today is SEPTA’s 60th birthday? SEPTA has come a long way to get to where it is with numerous acquisitions throughout its early days. Let's take a minute to remember SEPTA’s most transformative project that shows what we can do when we dream big. 🧵
👋 heeeey it's been a while, hasn't it?
we've reset the password to this account just so we can post 100% original brotherly love memes for SEPTA riding teens, all day, every day. feel free to give us a follow!
#NUMTOT
Thousands of Pennsylvanians rely on
@SEPTA
's Market-Frankford line every day. Thanks to the infrastructure law,
@SEPTA
is receiving $317 million to purchase 200 new rail cars and continue providing safe, reliable transportation for years to come.
The SEPTA Metro proposes simplifying the naming of groups of lines into simple, easy-to-understand letters with distinct bright colors! (In this particular example, the "L" formalizes the "El" that's been used by generations.)
(5/12)
The Metro unifies all of our train lines using the flat fare system (think trolley, el, subways, etc) under a single umbrella! 🚇🚊🚉🚆
PS the bus network redesign is underway at & y'all will hear more about regional rail in the coming years! 🚍
(3/12)
Craig Melidosian of Amazon's RCO: “We don’t want the public spaces [like a public plaza on the Amazon property] to be a hangout spot for high school students."
Why is it not for us? Young people, like us, do not have enough public spaces. (cc:
@MauraBKennedy
,
@CouncilmemberKJ
)
The YAC is back!!
Please allow us to reintroduce ourselves. The SEPTA Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a group of 18-25 year olds that aims to advocate for public transportation for youth in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
📷: Pic from our latest meetup at SEPTA HQ
The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority, a collaboration of multiple counties working to restore passenger rail service between Philadelphia and Reading recently updated their website. Give it a visit at to learn more about this exciting project.
Some lines have different services, branches, skipped stops, etc, and the lack of consistency between them means riding a new line often involves learning how to use an entirely new system.
(Ever accidentally gotten on the spur? It happens to me more than I'd like! 😭)
(6/12)
Putting it all together:
[T] a letter indicates the pairs of lines.
[3] a number indicates the service.
[T3] putting a letter + number together forms a line.
Here's the before & after of what that looks like for the entire metro network: 👀
(8/12)
With the fiscal cliff fast approaching it's important to take a step back and realize that funding SEPTA doesn’t just mean supporting Philadelphians, it means supporting all Pennsylvanians. The coming deficit would cost the state and local governments $254.7M in lost revenue.
You can find the interactive SEPTA Metro map at ! It's packed with renderings on what new signage at select stations may look like, information on how individual lines are branded, and how these lines connect to the frequent bus network. 🗺️
(11/12)
A common pain point we keep hearing about is that one line can have many different names. Many frequent riders refer to the "Market-Frankford Line" as "The El," and it doesn't help that the name used by Google Maps ("MFL") doesn't appear on any signage either. 🤔
(4/12)
As part of this, stations and vehicles are getting new signage as well. (We're gonna make sure no one will ever get lost at 15th/City Hall station again!) ✨
(9/12)
The proposed solution is to have a number that indicates the service, and for each individual service to be a different line. This is a flexible system that can be extended across all metro lines, and it's future-proof, too! 🔢
(7/12)
We want to extend our congratulations to Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. for becoming the next SEPTA board chair. Kenneth is a former member of the our counterpart, SEPTA Citizens Advisory Council, and is a dedicated public servant. Best of luck to you!
Happy National Transit Employee Appreciation Day!!! Be sure you take a second to thank the workers who keep you moving 365 days a year. There is no YAC without our transit employees. Thank you!
Hey y'all! Want to help out in making sure the PA State Legislature funds SEPTA? The YAC has put together a list of representatives who are on the Appropriations Committee. They handle funding in PA. Take a look here for names, numbers, and districts!
SEPTA Metro is a proposal centered around the goal of designing a transit system that is easier to navigate and understand! Some changes include new route designations, easier-to-understand signs, and more! ⬆️⬇️⬅️↘️
(2/12)
Did you know that the transportation industry contributes about 28% total US greenhouse gas emissions?
Our
#1
tip for changing that—
Take SEPTA!
Happy Earth Day🌿🌎
New above ground beacons will be placed near station entrances to make it clear that there is a station there, and to indicate the lines that serve that station. (I like to call these the forbidden lolipops! 🍭)
(10/12)
With the recent awarding of FRA grant money, SRPRA is pushing this project forward in hopes of reaping the many benefits this corridor will create: a $1.4 billion increase in incomes for residents, $1 billion in property investments, and less pollution for SE Pennsylvania.
Excited for when the new SEPTA wayfinding releases. The YAC provided comments and feedback to SEPTA and we are proud to have been a small part of contributing to a more comprehensive system.
This is a win for riders and ease of system navigation on
@SEPTAPHILLY
! Wayfinding, the ways/tools/systems people use to find their way through a space, can be unnecessarily complicated. Shout out to
@lexbylexpowers
and team for their hard work.
Furthermore, at the time an extension of the M to KOP was still on the table. These new names are 100% future proof. They allow for possible extensions without confusion since letters like M don't represent a final stop on the line. Great work
@SEPTA
!
These letters were deliberately chosen for their ability to transcend language. These may be hard to accept at first but the choices made were good. Choosing a long name for a line is not going to help new or old users who don't understand english to navigate the system.
In addition to the lost revenue, SEPTA plays a huge part in taking cars off the road. In 2018, SEPTA prevented 2,516,416,821 pounds of CO2 from entering the Pennsylvanian atmosphere. SEPTA continues to lower its emissions through initiatives every year.
Our delegation is proud to have supported this increase in funding for
@SEPTA
without raising taxes. We cannot let public transportation fail in our city, in our region, or anywhere in PA.
⬇️ Read more ⬇️
We can not let this valuable part of the economy go underfunded, leading to layoffs and service cuts that would have a lasting impact felt by all Pennsylvanians. FUND SEPTA!!
SEPTA will be hosting 2 community events on Bus Revolution this week. The first will be on Tuesday from 6-8pm at First Presbyterian Church in Germantown. This meeting is accessible on the Chestnut Hill West and East Regional lines as well as the J, XH, K, 65, 26, and 53 buses.
Small improvements like these work together to create a more seamless transit experience. The past few months have given us credit/debit card tap access and now this! Hopefully soon we will see countdown clocks at all stations as well!
You asked for it - and now it's [almost] here! Beginning Monday, February 26 - customers can activate SEPTA Key's NEW multi-rider feature: !
#ISEPTAPHILLY
#waytogo
@BlvdSubway
@PHLCouncil
@ericgoldwyn
@MTA
Does that statistic include all the potential redevelopment around the boulevard if the subway is constructed, or with just the housing that exists there today?
Its a shame that this contract didn't come to fruition. With SEPTA's regional rail fleet quickly aging and possible updates on reimagining regional rail coming soon, SEPTA could have really used some new additions to the fleet.
SCOOP:
@SEPTA
has terminated its $185 Million contract to buy double decker regional rail passenger train cars. Multiple sources tell me and SEPTA just confirmed to me. 1/3
SEPTA wants to bring their maps 🗺️ and signs 🪧up to the standard that our generation expects and deserves! They want to hear from you! 🗳️ Take the survey at
Thank you so much
@alanthefisher
for meeting with us to discuss SEPTA's Key Advantage program and how to utilize social media to advocate for public transit use!
@GovernorShapiro
@Amtrak
Thank you, Governor, for spreading transit access throughout the Commonwealth. However, our commonwealth's public transit networks are in dire need of state funding. Please urge the State Legislature to provide a portion of Sales Tax revenue to these systems.
Please join our partner
@5thSq
in supporting
@T4America
's request for emergency assistance for SEPTA. If Congress is planning to assist the Airline industry, they must act on transit as well.
Transit service will collapse if Congress doesn't act.
Tell your representative to support emergency assistance for transit agencies in any
#COVID19
stimulus bill.