SEPTA

March 12
Hear from the candidates

Whenever the issue of SEPTA comes up at mayoral forums, Tom Knox makes sure to let everyone know that he sometimes rides the bus.

Just so you know, even multi-millionaire businessmen-turned mayoral candidates know the travails of
SEPTA, from off-schedule buses to annual fears of fair hikes to that wonderful smell emanating from the (insert stop) subway station.

This week's Primary Concerns addresses SEPTA, with looks at what transportation experts believe the next mayor has to do to address the transportation authority's issues. The candidates offer up ideas from reestablishing the office of transportation to teaming with outlying local governments to go to Harrisburg to fight for dedicated funding.

Meanwhile, three of the candidates (Chaka Fattah, Tom Knox, and Michael Nutter) would work to level out the SEPTA board. The city currently only has two voices on the 15-member board. (Dwight Evans says altering the governance of SEPTA isn't at the top of his priority list.)

Comments

[SEPTA Watch]

Thanks for convening this roundtable. Among the specifics mentioned, I appreciate that Nutter discusses the need to better market SEPTA to nonriders. And I'm impressed that Knox advocates Bus Rapid Transit on Columbus Blvd and Roosevelt Blvd. http://septawatch.blogspot.com/