How many transit riders on every bus and trolley in the city actually live on the street of the route they ride to and from their home? Heck, I'll go TWO blocks. I would be surprised if that number hit 30%*. For those who do live along a route, how about letting the bus or trolley stop in front of each riders house. This should be the plan if the object is to pick up people - at least when the operators are awake.
Yes, there is not one residential address between Susquehanna & Girard and Richmond & Ann. That is about 1.2 miles or roughly 17% of the route in "no house" land. But, don't forget about that long distance between 32nd & Girard and the Zoo, another no house situation; although it would be very tough to find an all residential routing through the park and across the river. Also, why does the trolley stop at the Zoo? It's been awhile, but last I checked, nobody lives there, just some lions, tigers, and bears. While were at it, what about the subway-surface lines? Lets send them back topside and let them snake through the residential streets to about 22nd st and send them back below. What's time when you need to pick up?
I assumed that I explained why such a realignment could not happen during construction. Obviously, you didn't care, blew it off, or it just flew over your head, so I won't rehash. But let's just say that it could be done. It is a lot cheaper to build a trolley line with a new road. Putting a new trolley line in an existing road is more expensive in comparison. Basing figures on how much it costs to build the line on the new Richmond st vs the cost of the new section on Frankford Ave, a realignment along Aramingo - Thompson/Belgrade would cost about $25 million - about $15 million more then staying on Richmond. Now, considering that since the shuttles have been servicing the heavily residential Thompson and Belgrade St, ridership actually -wait for it - Stayed the same, you are going to spend $15 million dollars to save three blocks of walking for 30 people. Wow, this is SEPTA logic, are you sure you're not a closet manager? Now, what about those 20 other riders who live east of edgemont? They only had to walk a few blocks to catch a westbound trolley, now they have to walk an additional three. Again, the idea of realignment may have a glimmer of hope if it was the only line the area - not one of six.
Even though I have no clue why you brought it up as it had nothing to do about the 15 returning and the alignment, I will say that I 100% agree with you that the schedule for the 15 is good for toilet paper only. It was that way in the 80's, until bustitution, during bustitution, and today. Lastly, I'm still trying to figure out how sleeping operators backs up your position on the realignment idea. Also, how many times did you observe such behavior? Or, did you "hear" about it? If you did observe it first hand, what did you do about it? Did you at least knock on the windshield and say "Wake up sunshine, time for work"? Or, if you only heard about the "Big Siesta at Madison", was it from the same source who delivered the news to you on the "Wheelchair Trolleys"?
*I mistakenly typed 20% on the original message - edited to correct for 30%
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