Funding to Put Upgrades on Hold

More bad news for SEPTA:
http://www.dailylocal.com/article/20120 ... es-on-hold

For the third straight year, SEPTA expects to defer critical improvement projects due to funding cuts, transportation authority officials reported Thursday. SEPTA’s proposed $303 million spending plan for fiscal 2013 reflects a 25 percent reduction compared to the funding levels of three years ago. That will leave SEPTA unable to move forward on dozens of improvement projects vital to the transit system, officials said.
The capital funds available for Fiscal Year 2013, which covers the 12-month period from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013, will go largely toward mandates such as Regional Rail signal system upgrades and other safety improvements. The authority must also set aside funds for equipment overhauls, and the purchase of new buses and paratransit vehicles to replace those that are being removed from service.

Nothing is going to get done until somebody gets hurt.

Is SEPTA's infrastructure that bad? What are some projects that need to get done?

Welcome back to the 60s and 70s era of deferred maintenance.

scotty269 wrote:Nothing is going to get done until somebody gets hurt.

The governor has ignored recommendations of two panels he created. The stabilization fund is probably being used (up) to keep the operating budget in line.

If the situation doesn't change:

* The 2013 capital budget will be worse than the one they just presented.

AND........................

* The 2013 operating budget will have significant cuts. Cuts in staffing, cuts in service, fare increases higher than the rate of inflation, etc.

Gonna be really bad. But, the governor took a pledge not to raise any taxes.

So, walk or drive in July of 2013.

There won't be much of SEPTA left. Or PAT (in Pittsburgh) for that matter. PAT is cutting service by 35% in September 2012.

morris&essex4ever wrote:Is SEPTA's infrastructure that bad? What are some projects that need to get done?

Reportedly parts of the P&W "hi-line" bridge over the Schuylkill River are so rusted that you can pull out chunks of metal with your bare hands. And the last time I checked no one had certified the N-5s for water landings.

When the "don't tax anything anywhere for any purpose" chickens come home the roost will have rotted out and collapsed. Anyone for a cup of Tea?

Too bad all of the region's energies and money was wasted on going after discretionary grants for station improvements instead of bridges and substations.

jfrey40535 wrote:Too bad all of the region's energies and money was wasted on going after discretionary grants for station improvements instead of bridges and substations.

What the [dickens] are you talking about? Did you miss the SEPTA press event at Crum Creek, the SEPTA press event at the Norristown bridge, or the SEPTA press event at the Wayne Junction substation, just to name a few such events?

What the [dickens] are you talking about?

Yes Matthew I saw the smoke and mirrors show. Apparently you haven't caught on to the disconnect between the press conferences and the capital budget.