(The following story by Vernon Clark appeared on the Philadelphia Inquirer website on March 26.)
PHILADELPHIA — Citing increased ridership and its $1.08 billion operating budget proposal for fiscal year 2009, SEPTA announced initiatives yesterday aimed at increasing cleanliness, convenience, courtesy and communications for riders.
“In order to enhance transportation services to the region, we’ve identified four areas SEPTA needs to improve on,” SEPTA general manager Joe Casey said at a news conference at the agency’s headquarters in Center City.
Casey said the focus would be on improving the cleanliness of its vehicles and stations, increasing the frequency of service, boosting customer service initiatives, and training to improve communications.
“We’re looking at a 4 percent increase over last year’s ridership and an overall 7 percent increase over the last two years,” Casey said. “On the regional routes, we’re looking at a 12 percent increase over last year and 20 percent over the last three years.”
The increase in riders is attributed to the rising cost of gasoline, which has prompted more commuters to leave their cars at home.
“One of the things we need to do is address the capacity issues that go with the increased ridership and also to attract new riders,” Casey said.
Casey said SEPTA was “now in a financial position to commit our resources to the issues that matter the most to our customers.”
SEPTA plans to spend 5.6 percent more in the fiscal year that starts July 1 than this year, without increasing fares.
In July, the legislature approved a long-sought measure that provides SEPTA and other Pennsylvania mass-transit agencies with a dedicated source of state funding.
Hearings on the proposed $1.08 billion operating budget are to begin on Monday.
The budget proposal calls for 65 initiatives to improve service by addressing overcrowding, expanding peak-hour service, boosting midday, evening and late-night transit, and increasing late-night and weekend service on Regional Rail.
Casey said that in February the agency expanded service by 12 percent on the Market-Frankford El.
He said the most recent Regional Rail schedules added six peak trains and 1,200 seats to the morning commute.
Charles Webb, chief officer for service and planning, said: “The goals of these proposals are to alleviate overcrowding during both peak and off-peak periods and improve service to growing employment, retail and residential markets” such as King of Prussia.
He added that “many business now are 24-hour operations and use flexible work schedules. It is our goal to better serve these markets.”