Clearfield wrote:There's a whole new generation of younger people who take public transportation and don't own or want cars.Which precludes the majority of suburban commuter service. If your aim is to serve this "new generation" it will largely be done within or close to the city limits, where mass transit affords the easiest possibility of living without a car. The only thing I could conceivably see being done to tap into this market on the railroad would be to open a new station at say Fairmount Ave. on the main line to serve gentrified Northern Liberties (which I don't think is overtly worthwhile) or re-extension of Cynwyd to Manayunk/Ivy Ridge.
While SEPTA is reaching a ceiling for railroad ridership and should address it, suburban commuter service demands expansion for a greater reduction in total regional VMT. It only makes sense to also try and serve those who live in the suburbs but don't currently live near a line.