From: AS8250::WINS%"" 5-JAN-1994 17:49:08.22 To: MMITCHELL CC: Subj: File: "DVARP 9310" Return-Path: <@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU:LISTSERV@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU> Received: from CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU by asrr.arsusda.gov with SMTP ; Wed, 5 Jan 94 16:48:23 EDT Received: from CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU by CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 0661; Wed, 05 Jan 94 17:44:38 EST Received: from CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@CUNYVM) by CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (LMail V1.1d/1.7f) with BSMTP id 4912; Wed, 5 Jan 1994 17:39:36 -0500 Date: Wed, 5 Jan 1994 17:39:34 -0500 From: BITNET list server at CUNYVM (1.7f) Subject: File: "DVARP 9310" To: Matthew Mitchell The Delaware Valley Rail Passenger Electronic Edition October 1993 Vol. XI, No. 10 Published by the Delaware Valley Association of Railroad Passengers in the interest of continued, improved, and expanded rail service for the present and potential railroad and rail transit passengers of southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and nearby areas. For more information about DVARP and good rail service, please contact us: P.O. Box 7505, Philadelphia, PA 19101 215-222-3373 The Electronic Edition is posted as a service to the net community by DVARP. Your comments are welcome; send them to the address below. We hope you'll consider joining DVARP by filling out the coupon below. For on-line reading convenience, major articles are prefaced by **; other articles are prefaced by *. **DVARP Membership Coupon Yes, I want to support improved passenger train service in our region! Here are my DVARP membership dues for 1993! Name Address City, State, Zip Please choose a membership category below, enclose check and mail to: DVARP, PO Box 7505, Philadelphia, PA 19101 ( ) Regular: $15.00 ( ) Family: $20.00 ( ) Supporting: $25.00 ( ) Sustaining: $50.00 ( ) Patron: $75.00 ( ) Benefactor: $100.00 New members joining DVARP between October 1 and December 31 will be enrolled for 1994 at no extra cost. Inside The Delaware Valley Rail Passenger... 1 Hellertown, Stony Creek branch added to Newtown line privatization proposal. 2 From the Editor's Seat: SEPTA and Politics 3 On the Railroad Lines: Gremlins in SEPTA schedules, Storms batter system, Surfacing project disrupts Reading trunk, Paoli trains much slower. 5 SEPTA leverages big media attention on "Try Transit Day." 6 SEPTA ridership and financial data: end of the decline? 8 Computerized inventory of rail lines, possible trails in Pennsylvania. 9-10 Bob Clearfield on slow Airport service, John Hay rides the last RailWorks(R) diesel. 11 South Jersey Update: Transit not an issue in governor's race. 12 Crossing safety: a Conrail engineer's frightening point of view. 13 47 die in Amtrak derailment: must common sense also be a casualty? 14 DVARP offers great volunteer opportunities, Dates of Interest 15 Up and Down the Corridor, DVARP Directory. DVARP President: Chuck Bode Newsletter Editor: Matthew Mitchell for other officers and committee chairs, see page 15 Production Manager: Tom Borawski entire contents copyright (C) 1993 DVARP, except photos (C) 1993 credited photographers Opinions expressed in The Delaware Valley Rail Passenger are not necessarily those of DVARP or its members. We welcome your comments: call 215-222-3373 **Schedule Change Alert: New timetables for Amtrak and many commuter lines will take effect when daylight time ends on Sunday, October 31. Numerous minor schedule revisions are in effect on SEPTA Regional Rail lines: see page 3 **Hellertown, Stony Creek Added to Newtown Privatization Plan by Matthew Mitchell The SEPTA Board gave SEPTA management permission to proceed in negotiations with Rodney Fisk's Newtown Interurban Coalition for private operation of passenger rail service on lines to Newtown and Quakertown. At the Board meeting last month, it was revealed that Fisk has reconfigured his plan, withdrawing from Center City and extending his proposed service to Hellertown and Norristown. *Gambaccini, Houstoun Pessimistic on Deal's Financing But there is a good chance that this proposal may never become reality. SEPTA GM Lou Gambaccini and Treasurer Feather Houstoun both expressed doubts to the Board over Fisk's ability to run the trains on a break-even basis. SEPTA's chief objective in arranging the deal is to insulate itself from any financial risk in the transaction. To finance the cost of trains and track repairs, Fisk is counting on a pass-through of added subsidies SEPTA would receive from the Federal Transit Agency. Because the money is allotted on a per route-mile basis, Fisk's operation must cover more than just Fox Chase to Newtown in order to leverage sufficient money. Newtown Interurban Coalition will issue 30 million dollars worth of 'tax-exempt certificates of participation' to finance capital costs. The bonds would be guaranteed by Bucks County, and paid back out of dedicated state grants. The amount of the payments would be pegged to the incremental Federal subsidy, now estimated at $300 thousand per year. If the financing scheme and Fisk's operating plan can get put together, service on the new lines could start as soon as next fall. Center City Cut Out Fisk's original plan for Newtown service was to reach Center City via the Conrail trackage which was used this summer for RailWorks detour trains. That plan has been dropped for reasons which have not been disclosed. However, Conrail has been cool to Fisk's proposed ventures in the past and is known not to care for passenger trains interfering with its freight operations. Most of the substitute trackage, including all of the Stony Creek Branch, is owned by SEPTA, even though its use is freight-only. The extension of Fisk's originally-proposed Quakertown to Hellertown service adds nine miles to the route and brings it into Northampton County. Neither the county nor LANTA has not been reported as a participant in the project. Hellertown is about two miles south of Bethlehem, and may become a park-and-ride site. Pre-SEPTA trains covered the 29 miles from Hellertown to Lansdale in about 55 minutes, making intermediate stops at Centre Valley, Quakertown, Perkasie, Sellersville, Telford, Souderton, and Hatfield. With reconstruction of highway 309 upcoming, the railroad can provide vital relief. The 10-mile Stony Creek branch has not seen regular passenger service in over 50 years, but several large companies are now located along the line and may generate ridership, both direct riders from Lansdale and north and reverse commuters changing trains at Norristown. Fisk originally proposed to use his railcars for weekend excursions from Philadelphia to the outlets in Reading. The fate of that service in the new plan is not known. MontCo Opposition Despite the benefits which Montgomery County residents would gain from the expanded train service, County representatives Stewart Cades and Floriana Bloss voted against the negotiating go-ahead. Board members Earl Baker and David Woods also voted no. It is widely speculated that MontCo's opposition is to protect wealthy landowners along the Newtown right-of-way from any possible inconvenience caused by trains in their backyards again. In Board debate, Cades found his arguments quickly shot down. When he tried to couch his opposition in environmental terms, Karen Martynick of Chester County replied: "There is no greater conservation measure any of us can do than to vote for increased mass transit." Shortly after Cades expressed the County's opposition, Hatfield Borough Manager Mark Kurflin spoke in favor of the service. Andrew Warren pointedly asked Kurflin where his Borough is: Montgomery County. Cades is also concerned about the new service attracting riders who now use SEPTA's R2 and R3 lines, but that in fact may bring some benefits to Montgomery County in the form of fewer people driving to MontCo stations: adding to traffic and taking up limited parking capacity. Board Demands Conditions The vote to authorize negotiations came after Houstoun spelled out certain conditions NIC must satisfy before a contract is finalized. While making sure SEPTA will not incur any added costs is the foremost concern, the new venture must also obtain insurance indemnifying SEPTA from any claims resulting from the new service, show proof of any necessary trackage rights over other railroads and secure approval by the Federal Railroad Administration. Should negotiations be successful and Fisk's financial plan be approved, the Board will take a final vote on awarding the contract. **From the Editor's Seat: Politics and SEPTA At the pressure-packed SEPTA Board meeting where awarding of a contract for badly-needed new cars for the Market-Frankford El was delayed yet again, attendees were treated to a 'revival meeting' conducted by Rep. Anthony Williams. (D-Phila.) Williams packed the audience with his supporters and delivered an impassioned oration invoking that crowd as the reason new cars were needed right away. "Amen!" But there was one little thing which went wrong-Williams voted against awarding the contract! After the meeting, Williams was buttonholed by fellow Board member Andy Warren, Chairman (R) of the Bucks County Commissioners. Listening to Warren's words, one can see veins rising on his neck. With embarrassments like the El car procurement and the fight over lucrative bond counsel fees fresh in our memory, you might think that the farther we keep politicians away from SEPTA the better. Well, like most conventional wisdom, that idea's only half right. The Board seems to swing from excesses of interference with SEPTA's everyday operation to a complete 'hands off' attitude which lets management ignore the needs and concerns of the riding public. The SEPTA Board should do two things: 1) set policy for management to implement, and 2) monitor the performance of management to ensure the public interest is served. And the politicians who control SEPTA through the Board and through the power of the purse also have a twofold role: 1) to communicate the needs and wishes of their constituents through the Board, and 2) to support public transit both with dollars and with responsible decisions made at their level of government. Andy Warren makes a good model for both the Board and the politicians. On the Board, Warren isn't afraid to criticize management or strike back at SEPTA's critics. He refuses to accept hypocrisy lying down. Back home in Bucks County, Warren demonstrated his commitment to improving transit from the beginning, when sickened by the Gould-Stead affair, he appointed himself to the Board to straighten it out. Since then he has been a vocal advocate for restoring long-suspended rail service, and has his county back the 211 bus with cash. His door was open to DVARP; as a result he gained an ally in his fight for restoration of Newtown train service instead of making an enemy, and we paid attention to his concerns as much as he did to ours. If every politician could take public suggestions and ideas as constructively as Warren does, we citizens all would be a lot better off. *SEPTA Uses New Slogan: "Better Than Driving" We're getting there! -MDM **On the Railroad Lines... *Schedule Snafu The September timetable change may have set a record for most typographical errors and after-publication changes. Flyers notifying passengers of the errors papered stations. Passengers should check those signs carefully and mark changes on their timetables. Many of those changes are also listed below, denoted by a @ symbol. Incorrect zones were listed for some stations, while other stations were completely left off. Downtown terminal points of a few trains were changed as well. *Weekend Stops Restored According to a flyer handed out last month, SEPTA intended to abandon weekend service at at least 5 lightly-used stations. However, to do so would have violated the law. They are being retained as flag stops, a reasonable compromise which will keep the trains available to local residents while speeding service for everyone else. *Ticket Machines Back? SEPTA crews have been spotted resupplying and testing the ticket vending machines which have been out of service nearly two years. Once all the machines are ready, they will be switched back on at the same time. *Storm Belts Wires A strong storm on the 27th brought reports of tornados in Delaware County and the north suburbs. It knocked out service on the Reading commuter rail trunk, the R3 Elwyn, and the Media-Sharon Hill trolleys. *R1: Surfacing Project SEPTA crews adding ballast and levelling the tracks between Fern Rock and Glenside have caused a two-hour gap in service to Melrose Park and Elkins Park and a reduction in evening train frequency at Jenkintown and Glenside. R1 trains are turning back at Roberts Yard after 9:30 to avoid congesting the single track in service. DVARP's request for SEPTA to have R3 and R5 trains protect the Melrose Park and Elkins Park stops was turned down. All riders to Fern Rock and points north should expect minor delays; the service disruption is slated to end in late November. @Jenkintown riders are enjoying an added morning express train, leaving at 8:05 and arriving Market East at 8:26. *R2 Evening Shuttle Train The surfacing project mentioned above has caused an awkward and slow shuttle-train operation for some night-time Warminster riders. With two single-track segments and a transfer, the situation is a nightmare for planners and passengers alike. Riders on the 9:38 from Warminster must wait over 30 minutes for the connecting R3 train to Center City; those leaving Suburban Station at 10:19 wait 16 minutes. *R3 Construction Update Trains will run on the Elwyn line on Thanksgiving weekend, November 25-28. The big reconstruction project will be temporarily suspended for the holiday. SEPTA was criticized last year for a catenary project which closed the line down on Black Friday. SEPTA also delayed this year's work to avoid interference with the Labor Day holiday. Bus Stop Moved @The 30th Street Station shuttle bus stop has been moved closer to the station. Catch the bus on the 30th Street side of the station, under the commuter train tracks at the door below stairway B. Early-Peak Train Cut The replacement of the former 3:37 and 4:05 pm departures from Suburban Station with a 3:55 train has inconvenienced passengers who end work at 4:00. We had incorrectly reported that peak-hour R3 service was unchanged last month. @Elwyn express #7365 now serves Market East, departing there at 5:15 pm. Minor delays were reported on the West Trenton line during the evening rush of September 13 and 15. The former was reported to be due to downed wires; the latter due to Conrail problems. *R5 Track Shift-Slower Trains As SEPTA proceeds with construction of the new Overbrook Shop, tracks between Zoo and Overbrook have been reconfigured. R5 trains no longer use the flyover near 52nd St. they run on track 2 which had been used only by Amtrak trains. Almost all outbound trains on the Paoli line are four minutes slower between 30th St. and Paoli; this may be linked to the track shift and shop construction. Downingtown Service Added Off-peak and evening service to Downingtown which was slashed last fall has been restored in the September timetable. Other changes besides the outbound slowdown, were minimal. @Bryn Mawr local #7001 was incorrectly listed in the timetable: it does not stop at Temple or Market East @Doylestown express #6595 now stops at Jenkintown at 8:05 am. "Electrical problems" caused the annulment of several Paoli line trains the afternoon of September 14. Let's Do Doylestown! SEPTA and the Bucks Co. Tourist Commission have teamed up to offer a "Destination Doylestown" train ticket/museum pass combination to vistors. While other commuter lines frequently offer such packages, this is a first for SEPTA. *R6 Cynwyd Line Bridge Worry As R5 trains have been relocated to a ground-level track (see above), R6 trains are now the only ones using the flyover and switch known as 'Valley.' The limited use of the structure will tempt Amtrak to defer maintenance on it, which could imperil the future of Cynwyd service. Conshohocken One: Can SEPTA raise the sign at Conshohocken Station so it is visible from the highway as one exits I-76 or I-476? At present the sign is below eye level. Conshohocken Two: A new office tower will be built in Conshohocken and will house the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Commuter rail was a key requirement for ASTM in choosing a site, the Philadelphia Business Journal reports. @Weekend trains will stop at Shawmont, which is not shown on the timetable. Dangerous holes in the concrete platform at Allegheny Station have been repaired. Conrail asks for Stony Creek Extension The Inquirer reports that Conrail asked for an extension of the deadline for installation of crossing gates on the Stony Creek line to December 31st. The one accident which has occurred thus far was at a crossing with working warning lights (but no gate) at Hancock Street in Lansdale. *R7 Parking Upgrade SEPTA has closed the outbound parking lot at Cornwells Heights for repaving and remarking, but capacity is being maintained because the temporary SEPTA lot used for RailWorks is still open. NYC Ticket Machine? Not Yet The NJ Transit ticket vending machine selling Northeast Corridor tickets to R7 riders at 30th Street Station has been in place for two months, but still says that the convenience it adds is "coming soon." @R7 weekend stops at Fishers and Wissinoming have been retained. *R8 North Philly Connection? Passengers are complaining about SEPTA's decision to have about half its peak hour Chestnut Hill West trains skip North Philadelphia station. New York-bound commuters save a lot of time by transferring at North Philadelphia instead of 30th Street. Restoring the stops on a discharge-only basis would meet the passengers' needs while still allowing SEPTA to move its trains right onto the Corridor and avoid Amtrak-caused delays. A shutdown of the Chestnut Hill West line due to a fire in the vicinity of Queen Lane was reported on September 10th. The effects of the fire were felt on the line for the remainder of the evening. The Fox Chase line was down the morning of Sept. 12th due to a accident at Newtown Ave., reported to be a pedestrian being hit. No shuttle buses were provided, passengers were told to use the Route 24 bus. @Weekend trains will stop at Westmoreland and North Philadelphia, contrary to printed timetable information. *Accident Clarification SEPTA reports its Systems Safety Department has not completed its investigation of an incident on the Paoli line (see August DVRP) which killed an engineer. Spokesman Richard DiLullo added that nothing in the investigation so far indicates that a passing Amtrak train forced the SEPTA doors open. *RailWorks P.R. vs. SEPTA P.R. The Railworks public relations contract totals $3.3 million over three years-mostly paid for by the Federal capital grants. SEPTA's own Public Relations Department budget is only $0.209 million for this year and is funded by SEPTA's Operating Budget. *100 New Schedule Delayed New Norristown High-Speed Line schedules continue to be on hold pending completion of N5 car testing. *Suburban Notes: New schedules will take effect October 31 on many SEPTA suburban bus and trolley routes. SEPTA has added a new information kiosk at Montgomery Mall in Montgomeryville, which is served by the 94 and 96 bus routes. *CTD NY Senator Raises Stakes Philadelphia Business Journal reports that New York State Senator John R. Kuhl Jr. warned western Pennsylvania legislators that he had sponsored a bill that would exclude all Pennsylvania businesses from New York State contracts "if SEPTA doesn't give ABB the [Market-Frankford] contract." *13th Street: Warning Continues DVARP's Transit Committee continues to recommend that Market-Frankford and Subway-Surface passengers keep away from the eastbound (to Frankford) side of 13th Street Station at all times. The encampment of homeless people in the concourse outside the station has grown, and is a health and safety risk to both passengers and SEPTA employees. *211 Trouble Continues Reliability problems on the 211 bus from Warminster to Ivyland have gotten worse, despite complaints by DVARP and individual riders. Trips have often been missed and one driver has been observed sleeping in his bus. *CTD SEPTA Moves on 'Transit First' The long-awaited 'transit-first' demonstration on Route 48 is finally underway, with added bus frequency and other improvements. SEPTA Route 22 will no longer run as an express during off-peak hours, adding to travel time on the Olney-Willow Grove-Warminster route. *City Transit Notes: Revised timetables are in effect on routes L and 61. Make sure your schedule is marked with a *. *Trolley Vandalism Threat The PCC cars stored at Midvale have been vandalized and ought to be moved to a more secure location before more costly damage is done. **SEPTA, KYW Lead Try Transit Day For the first time in years, (see June 92 DVRP) SEPTA took part in the nationwide Try Transit Day promotion. The participation of the region's biggest transit operator made the day into a major event, leveraging support and publicity worth thousands of dollars if SEPTA had to pay for it itself. KYW radio was the hero of the day, devoting countless minutes of coverage to transit topics and taking the bold step of suspending its usual traffic reports in favor of "transit reports." The all-news radio station (which gets a huge audience of auto drivers) also prepared a week-long series of Regional Affairs Council reports highlighting the problems our overdependence on cars causes and showing how some companies are solving them by finding alternative ways to get people to the workplace. SEPTA offered discount fares, $1.00 on the transit divisions and $2.00 on the RRD. For the convenience of people trying the system for the first time, and to avoid antagonizing them, the normal penalty on fares paid on the train was waived. PATCO (as usual) did SEPTA one better; all rides were free! NJ Transit offered $1.00 rides between Lindenwold and Philadelphia. SEPTA reported mixed results, citing a 10,000 passenger (2%) increase overall, but not the swarm of new riders which other cities have seen on "Try Transit Day." An increase of 4.6 percent was reported for the RRD, where SEPTA has lost the most to the private auto. PATCO parking lots were close to capacity. All three systems observed that mid-day ridership increased more than at rush hour: car commuters' habits are quite firmly entrenched. As for the long-term results, readers may recall DVARP's "Operation Conshohocken" promotion. We never reported on the results because it would cost as much to determine the effectiveness of the program as the program cost itself. Riders got a good impression of the transit systems, thanks to a day of reliable service. SEPTA claimed a morning RRD on-time performance of 98.8 percent. KYW's "transit reports" were-well boring. Listeners were treated to the sounds of a snafu-free transit day. Permanent Gain in Visibility While the transit-only report idea had to yield to a head-on collision snarling the Ben Franklin Bridge, KYW's bold step raised consciousness right there at the station. KYW is has now permanently converted its traffic center to a "traffic and transit center" so listeners will routinely hear the words, "SEPTA, PATCO, and New Jersey Transit are running on or close to schedule." Knowing that the majority of Center City commuters arrive by rail, DVARP had sought for years to have transit get equal time. Try Transit Day was a success because SEPTA leveraged the support of outsiders like KYW. Signs are that that strategy is gaining support among SEPTA managers. This trend has to continue, not only in marketing the service, but in every other aspect of SEPTA's function. Radio and TV exposure is good, but the real persuasive force which must be unleashed to get more people onto SEPTA is made up of advocates like DVARP and the riders who can tell their neighbors and co-workers that they should be riding too. But to get those people to do SEPTA's work, they must see their stake in SEPTA and see consistent improvement in the quality of service.-MDM, TB *News compiled by Matthew Mitchell and correspondents: Chuck Bode, Tom Borawski, Doug Bowen, Bob Clearfield, Lucia Esther, John Hay, Bob Machler, Don Nigro, John Pawson,Steve Spitzmiller. Special thanks to Tom Collins, Rich DiLullo, John McGee,and Harry Garforth of SEPTA Additional news from BITNET, KYW, Newark Star-Ledger, New York Times, Philadelphia Business Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer, USENET. **SEPTA Ridership Report In its final Revenue and Passenger Analysis for the fiscal year, SEPTA reported a stemming of its ridership losses. Annualized CTD ridership was virtually level over the course of the year but down 1.2% over fiscal 1992. Suburban Transit ridership actually was up for the year, by 1.0%. SEPTA's fare revenue totals on all divisions were influenced by passengers' shift from passes to single-trip tokens and tickets. On the transit divisions, this has the effect of lowering the average fare and total revenue, while on the railroad, it increases fare revenue. SEPTA Ridership FY 93 FY 92 change Subway-Elevated 53.8M 54.7M -1.7% Surface (Bus) 120.4M 122.2M -1.5% Light Rail 3.6M 3.2M +14.0% City Transit Total 177.8M 180.1M -1.2% Red Arrow 13.0M 12.9M +0.5% Frontier 2.2M 2.1M +3.8% Suburban Transit Total 15.2M 15.1M +1.0% Regional Rail Total 19.2M 21.1M -9.2% GRAND TOTAL 212.2M 216.3M -1.9% On the commuter rail lines, the RailWorks(R) megaproject caused an overall ridership loss of 9.2% and sharper declines on the affected lines, but the bad trend did flatten out late in the year. RRD Ridership FY 93 FY 92 change R1 Airport 636,892 691,945 -8.0% R2 Wilmington 1,714,150 1,867,868 -8.2% R3 Elwyn 2,125,859 2,224,652 -4.4% R5 Paoli 5,532,916 5,761,236 -4.0% R6 Cynwyd 76,611 105,029 -27.1% R7 Trenton 2,581,813 2,541,876 +1.6% R8 Chestnut Hill 1,580,570 1,282,075 +23.3% PRR-Side Total 14,248,811 14,474,681 -1.6% R2 Warminster 1,033,846 1,283,008 -19.4% R3 West Trenton 1,358,472 1,730,656 -21.5% R5 Doylestown 2,211,791 2,620,635 -15.6% R6 Norristown 427,407 774,798 -44.8% R7 Chestnut Hill 602,621 1,081,829 -44.3% R8 Fox Chase 442,155 835,123 -47.1% Reading-Side Total 6,076,292 8,326,049 -27.0% RRD TOTAL 20,325,103 22,800,650 -10.9% Next to its nearby peers, SEPTA does not look good. Only Maryland MTA (Baltimore city and suburban transit) showed worse ridership performance in the last two years. NJ Transit and Metro-North were the best performers, gaining 1.5% this year. SEPTA's projections for 1994 cite the crucial need to win back passengers from other modes of travel. Economic conditions are not favorable for job growth in central Philadelphia, so the market will not expand. **SEPTA Financial Report: Federal Subsidies Increase According to official financial reports released at the SEPTA Board meeting, the multi-million dollar revenue loss caused by RailWorks is being made up with increased Federal operating subsidies allocated to the Railroad Division. As seen in the graph, the 1993 grants are more than double previous years' levels. That strong support will have to continue in the coming years. The financial tables below cover the first 11 months of the fiscal year and are the latest available. SEPTA is not releasing full-year data until it is complete and verified. -----Total all divisions: Amounts in thousands----- Operating Revenues FY '92 FY '93 Full Fares 227,391 219,892 School Fares 12,955 13,169 Senior Citizen 53,523 52,736 Interest Income 3,235 3,367 Other Income 6,043 5,987 TOTAL REVENUE 303,147 295,151 Operating Expenses FY '92 FY '93 Labor/Fringe Costs 397,021 395,339 Material/Services 92,058 90,441 Injuries/Damages 46,109 36,916 Propulsion Power 25,704 23,396 Fixed Rent 10,602 10,502 Fuel 8,908 8,788 Depreciation 4,155 3,925 TOTAL EXPENSES 584,557 569,307 DEFICIT BEFORE SUBSIDIES 281,410 274,156 Operating Subsidies FY '92 FY '93 Federal** 24,711 39,253 State 154,303 150,708 Local 51,435 51,037 Asset Maintenance 38,213 26,391 Other 249 206 TOTAL SUBSIDIES 268,911 267,595 DEFICIT AFTER SUBSIDIES 12,499* 6,561 *FY '92 figures do not show the effect of a $7.8 million June '92 state subsidy payment ** Increase amounts to +58.8% *Consent Controversy The intercounty dispute over the Newtown line spilled over into procedural matters, as Board members questioned the Board's use of a 'consent calendar' parliamentary technique which lumps an entire meeting's agenda items into a single vote after contentious issues are worked out away from the public spotlight. SEPTA General Counsel James Kilcur was asked to rule on the propriety of votes to vote on specific agenda items separately. [If that last sentence confused you, you weren't alone!] No clear resolution of that question was to be had. While separate, on-the-record votes on routine contracts and change orders can be tedious for the Board and for members of the public, the consent calendar alternative does not appear to be an improvement and ought to be discarded.-MDM **Rails to Trails Inventory Nears Completion The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Affairs (DER) and its consultant, Wilbur Smith Associates, held seven public meetings across the state last month, to present their work to date on inventorying the state's active and abandoned rail lines. The September 20 meeting in Philadelphia lasted five hours, in which the formal public presentation was given three times to accommodate people's differing schedules-a thoughtful idea. About ten persons attended each presentation, mostly representing bicyclists but including at least two planners and four DVARP members. The inventory is required by recent legislation, which as usual did not provide funding to cover the cost. DER and the Bureau of Parks worked to put together a coalition of interests and agencies to share the cost and presumably share the results. That coalition included DER, PennDOT, the US Environmental Protection Agency, Industrial Heritage Project, Pa. Department of Community Affairs, and the National Park Service. The project showed foresight by including active rail lines too. If any of them are abandoned, adding them to the list of trail candidates will be simple. The data was assembled with a computerized geographic information system (GIS) which includes both tables of data and computer-generated maps. The GIS allows information to be kept current more quickly and cheaply than in a paper map-based system. More significantly, many types of analysis can be performed with the GIS. The data can be cross-referenced to census data or transferred to other computer systems for other uses. This is where the project becomes interesting to passenger train advocates. The consultant demonstrated how one could select a rail line and in only seconds determine the population living within five miles of the line. DVARP volunteers have had to spend hours on that task in the past. The consultants are expected to spend another two months refining the data before turning it and the computer system over to the Bureau of Parks. The consultants used a multitude of maps and documents as sources, but still admit to a few gaps in the data. At the meetings, people with detailed knowledge of specific areas identified other corrections. The Bureau is committed to update the abandoned segment list from ICC records, and census data can be easily updated. An agency and funding still need to be found to keep the other info up to date. Despite these minor faults, the system is a major accomplishment in railroad information. George Burns of the Bureau of Parks, and Don Matzzie, William Metzger, and Naveen Lamba of Wilbur Smith Associates deserve credit for a job well-done. The Bureau of Parks offered to make printed information available to groups working on specific projects, and to make the entire database available to agencies and groups with the necessary resources (a large-capacity PC and the commercial software). This inventory will be useful to trail projects, rail projects, and many other projects that use geographic data in the planning process.-CB **Revival for CAC The Citizen Advisory Committee, official ombudsmen for SEPTA passengers, spoke at its meeting last month of plans to increase its activity in 1993- 94. Though CAC is established by the state law which created SEPTA and has the responsibility to report to the General Manager on budgets, fares and service, it had been disappointingly silent in recent years. Pat O'Brien has been elected to chair the Committee, which is made up of riders from all five SEPTA counties. The entire executive and subcommittee structure of the CAC is being revised, as will be its by-laws. At last month's meeting, the Committee reiterated its stand that accomodating homeless people in subway entrances and concourses is not acceptable; providing a safe, non-threatening environment for the general public must take priority. The statement added that transit facilities are not the proper place for people to live. The statement is to be communicated to the Rendell Admnnistration and to City Council. Most CAC members are appointed by the elected leaders of their home counties, five are appointed by the General Manager. Vacancies on the Committee ocurr often; DVARP will report on them here next month and tell you how to apply for a CAC seat. *Coming next month: Complete Trolleyfest Coverage in The Delaware Valley Rail Passenger **Airport - Express(?) by Bob Clearfield When I needed to fly to Atlanta a couple of weeks ago, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to ride SEPTA to the airport. Just think, a two seat trip to Atlanta. It had possibilities! I was expecting a high speed ride from Elkins Park to Terminal B, but the schedule brought me back to earth. Driving to the airport takes between 35 and 40 minutes. SEPTA can get me there in only 50 minutes. What the heck! Support public transit! I took the train anyway. The trip into center city was uneventful, and I had a birds-eye-view as I stood behind the cab looking through the front windows. All of the new trackwork, bridges and catenary suggested to me that this train should be able to operate at speeds greater than 45 mph. Unfortunately, 45 was the highest speed we saw, except for the short run from 60th Street to 90th Street where we reached the enviable speed of 60 mph! When we reached the airport approach bridge, we slowed to a crawl once again. Finally, we reached Terminal B, on time! The next day, I flew back to Philly International and headed back home the same way I came. This train was much more crowded, since the conductor elected to close off the lead car. I guess there were too many stations between the airport and 30th Street for one conductor to handle. NOT! Some people might say I'm making my point the hard way. Maybe, but let's look at the facts. The airport run from 30th Street is virtually a dedicated right of way just for airport trains. The line is less than 10 years old. The equipment can run much faster than 45 mph. Except for reducing trainset requirements, (or on-time statistics) what is the purpose of maintaining such a slow schedule? *Dancing in the Station The Philadelphia Dance Alliance, a coalition of perfoming groups, put on its second free festival of dance in SEPTA stations last week. The slogan "Watch Out!" reflected the Alliance's effort to suprise people by bringing its art to unexpected places. While most commuters continued passively to work, a few of them found themselves unwitting participants in the performances, making their peers see the artistic potential of their everyday movements. The festival is a savvy marketing tool; rail commuters are used to coming to Center City and may be convinced to stay in town to attend arts performances. The Pennsylvania Ballet has been especially active in targetting rail passengers, building an entire performance program on a train theme earlier this year.-MDM **On the Last Detour Train by John Hay It's 4:45 p.m. I leave the office-destination Amtrak Station 30th St.-to board the final run of the last remaining RailWorks diesel train (R3 West Trenton) on Friday, September 3, 1993. Rush, rush, rush. Pant, pant, pant. Why am I running? Well, I did one day happen to see the train leaving about 15 minutes early, while standing on the upper level. But even my fast pace could be futile-if SEPTA decides to forget about the last run, as they did with the R5 diesel two weeks ago (and as they once did with Reading, Bethlehem, Newtown, West Chester, Ivy Ridge, and those numbers like 6, 47, 50, 53 and 60). I enter the heavenly portals of 30th, and look around Stairway 10 for signs of life (I know better than to look at Amtrak's Solari board). Seeing none, I head upstairs to the info desk. A SEPTA station employee is talking to a customer. Suddenly, the former produces the cardboard sign "R3 Diesel Train to West Trenton" and gives it to the "customer." The treasure hunt has begun! I wait by Stairway 10, joined by the R3 regulars and irregulars. At 5:10 the rope gate parts, and the customers converge on the stairway with an insanely pleasant stroll down to their train on track 9. It's the usual consist-NJ Transit U34CH 4158, still in silver and disco stripes, plus four of our Bombardier push-pull coaches. I catch up with Mr. Sign-Off and congratulate him, and he wastes no time getting the signatures of the conductor and the head end on the inside of the sign. On the platform, I say to the conductor, "Last run, huh?" He replies, "Yep. We won't see any more diesels here in the city, unless they reopen the line to Newtown." (Even if they do, I'm sure it will just run to Fox Chase, not downtown.) He continues, "These (diesels) will go back to NJ Transit after today." I add: "Maybe they'll head for the scrapyard instead. They're getting rid of them." "I can see why, too," he says. So can I. The one they painted blue gave out, and they all smoke it up like Alcos. No wonder we got them for a buck a day! At 5:20, we're on the move. I chat with the sign purloiner as we creep through the Penn Coach Yard. Much to see on the train, so I proceed to walk the four cars back to the rear. As I pass through, the head count comes to- get ready... 50. More than the "15 lonely people" Steve Goodman referred to on that IC streamliner, [ed. note: in the song "City of New Orleans"] but far short of something like LIRR's diesel expresses. Quite a few customers have cameras, but where are all the buffs who filled the last runs of RERs, MP54s, and PCCs in the past? By the way, there's quite a party going on in the last car, too-NOT! Hey, I know SEPTA didn't exactly lure crowds onto this and the other train, but how about a little appreciation for running them at all? Of course, it is Labor Day weekend, people are vacationing, and some far wilder parties no doubt await all of us riders who remain. As for the railfans, perhaps they've already ridden the train ad nauseam. Besides, this is only a temporary train, with a definite end planned from the beginning; it's not the Century or the Crusader. I take a position in the rear cab, next to a railfan who's going to Fern Rock just for the ride. He has a camera, and as we pass through Zoo, I suggest a shot of the soon-to-vanish double-slip switches, which he takes. We continue winding steadily through Fairmount Park, past Belmont Junction, past a freight in the siding carrying cars filled with non-hazardous waste, past two railfans with cameras (the only ones I saw trackside!), over the Schuylkill bridge, and after CP-Laurel Hill we start the long pull upgrade. Now we slog under the R6, past Tasty Baking, Budd, and my RailWorks line, the R8 (R for Rough, 8 for SEPTA behind Amtrak's NEC 8-ball). As we enter CP-Nice, the train starts snaking through the crossovers. It's up the Blue Line on this blue day. Actually, it's more like the Green Line now-pretty much like an old interurban in the summertime. The U-boat and Bomb cars go under the Roberts Yard lead, and struggle upgrade to the 9th St. Branch. Everything looks ready, including the ultra- modern 20 mph double-slip switches to the Chestnut Hill East line. In the distance, a test train pulls through CP-Hunt into Roberts. Surprise-no orders at Wayne! Our top speed has been 30 thus far, and we're doing just that through Newtown Junction. The conductor has joined us in the cab; I remark aloud that they're still doing trackwork here, and he says it's because 18 cars of a CR freight derailed two days ago. We pull into Fern Rock, and the subway crowd-albeit much smaller than usual-gets on. I would guess about another 50-60 customers boarded. The head end gets "two to go," and we're on the move again. We hit 65 passing Elkins Park, hurtling downgrade into Jenkintown. As I move to the forward vestibule to debark, neither merrymaking nor cameras are in evidence. I step off, bid farewell to the conductor, and watch it scoot off to the right, past old KI Tower, and out of sight. No railfans here-just a father and son tossing a tennis ball. About five minutes later, I hear the --o- for Rydal Rd., and that's all. What happened on the rest of the trip I cannot say, but I rather doubt that a Lowenbrau oompah band boarded at Bethayres, or that the cars were decorated a la the Christmastime Wall Street and Crusader. That's it, then. No Auld Lang Syne, no munchies, no champagne, not even DVARP bagels. There was water on board-but only in the form of crocodile tears. It is unfortunate that the diesel trains not only went out with a whimper, but started out with one. Three simple words SEPTA never said about these trains were: "Ride these trains!" The diesel trains were more of a sop than pollution and agoraphobia beaters. (Amtrak was hardly helpful, either. When was it ever announced on the PA or the Solari board at 30th?) SEPTA management may be waxing euphoric about the successes of RailWorks, but even if all of the lost rail ridership can be recaptured, the diesel trains will likely be a forgotten, and forgettable, part of the project. I only hope that the first train back to Newtown-be it Silverliner, diesel, hi-rail, or tunnelling mole-gets a more substantial send-off from SEPTA. *DVARP Members Run for Local Office At least three DVARP members are running in municipal elections in the Pennsylvania suburbs next month. Ann Goren is running for council in Newtown, Bucks County; one plank of her platform is restoration of good commuter rail service to Newtown. Further down that line, Regina Litman of Huntington Valley is running for Abington Township Council. Litman hopes to reverse Montgomery County's opposition to Newtown rail service. Longtime transit supporter and SEPTA-watcher Al Ackert seeks an at-large seat on Upper Darby Township Council. To find out more about these campaigns, call DVARP. *Be Sure to Vote-Wherever You Are While local governments do not have much control over transit service, the decisions they make on land use planning can have big effects on transit use and convenience. Therefore, you should take a few moments to find out where candidates stand, and make sure you vote November 2! **Transit Not at Issue in NJ Race The question of support for NJ Transit is on the back burner in the governor's race in New Jersey, as Jim Florio and Christine Todd Whitman spar over taxes. Doug Bowen of New Jersey ARP informs us that whoever the winner is, the fate of NJ Transit will be primarily in the hands of the State Legislature. Whitman says she would slash state spending, but will not tell what will be cut. Support for mass transit has often been a budget-cutting target. Meanwhile, Florio has not voiced support for NJT in his reelection campaign. *NJT Rep to Speak on Burlington-Gloucester Corridor Assessment This month's DVARP General Meeting (at the Collingswood Library October 16) will feature a presentation from New Jersey Transit on its study of restoring rail services to Burlington and Gloucester Counties. DVARP's South Jersey Committee has been in frequent communication with NJT planning staff, making sure that low-cost rail alternatives are considered and asking for service over the full Mount Holly line. See the DVRP stories from June, August, and September for the details. *Commission to Pick NJ Museum Site On July 30th, Governor Florio signed into law an act creating a 16 member panel that will study different aspects in the creation of a state transportation museum. A previous commission chose a golf driving range in Flemington; however, a Phillipsburg rail yard may now be considered. **Reader's Advisory: The descriptions in the following article are explicit and may be disturbing to some people, but the message is important.-MDM Crossing Safety: A View From the Cab by Denise Goodman, Conrail locomotive engineer reprinted from On the (Bi)Level by permission of Metra "I've worked in Conrail locomotives for 14 years and I've been driving them for six years now, sometimes right through your towns. I'm writing this because I know lots of you are angry about whistle-blowing and don't believe we only blow in emergencies. You don't know how many emergencies there are every day. You don't know how scary it is to be driving a train and think you're going to hit someone running around the gates. You don't know what it feels like to see someone lock eyes with you for an instant, and then die. I've been involved in six crossing accidents in my career. Four people aren't alive anymore because of them. The first one happened two weeks after I started working...the last one happened this past February in Monroe, Michigan. That one almost killed me. I knew I was going to hit her when she came up to the crossing and I didn't see any brake lights. I blew my whistle. I hung on that whistle so long and so hard my conductor told me later he thought I was going to pull it off the wall. I was still blowing it after we hit her, after we shoved her a half mile down the tracks, and the front of her car blew 30 feet in the air. She was 31 years old and she was dead. People don't look normal when a train hits them. It hits so hard that their blood vessels explode and they just sort of turn to mush. She was wadded up in a ball and there was blood all over the place. And her four year old baby was hanging out the back window, screaming. It was 17 below zero. The baby's leg was broken...and her nose and her pelvis...and she was hysterical. I knew she was in a lot of pain, but it was so cold, I was afraid she would die before the ambulance got there. My conductor and I somehow got her up in the engine and I wrapped her in my coat and I held her and talked to her and I tried to make it all right. I had that little girl for 20 minutes, I told her about my own kids and I told her we'd pray for her mommy. She calmed down a little and I was calm when I had her to take care of. They say she's going to be OK. Right after they took her away, a man ran up to help. Then he looked at the wreck and screamed "Oh my God, that's my car... That's my car!" It turned out to be that woman's husband. I know there was nothing I could've done, but you blame yourself anyway. It tears your heart out, thinking 'what if, what if, what if.' I came home and looked at my three kids and thought, I don't ever want this to happen to you. I grabbed them with everything I had. I couldn't sleep. Every time I'd close my eyes, I'd see the car coming and feel the impact and wake up screaming. I didn't eat or talk for four days. It tore me up mentally, physically, emotionally. Some people think we don't care, but they're wrong. We grieve, we mourn like it was own family. I'll remember that day the rest of my life. I went to the counseling Conrail offered me and it helped a lot. I know I didn't kill this woman. I know it was beyond my control. I still have nightmares, but they're not so bad now. I'm back on my feet and back on the job. But it's been a long, hard road. Folks-we're not blowing our whistles to make you miserable. We're blowing our whistle cause we're scared to death we're going to hit you and kill you. Sometimes I yell at you when it's a close call. I say, Oh God, I'm just so glad you made it. And then I get so mad you weren't more careful. Don't drive around those gates. Don't walk on the tracks. Don't risk your life to get someplace a minute earlier. It just isn't worth it." DVARP thanks Dan Dawdy for relaying this article to us via BITNET. **Amtrak Operating Funds Saved The Inquirer reports that an amendment which would have eliminated all of Amtrak's $331 million Federal operating funding was rejected 337-84 in the House. Had the amendment passed, nearly all of Amtrak's service would be shut down, and commuter rail operators would also face problems. Of local members, only Robert Walker (R-Lancaster) voted in favor of defunding Amtrak. If you have comments for Rep. Walker, phone him at 202- 225-2411 or 717-393-0666 or fax 202-225-2484. *Welcome Nebraska ARP! The Nebraska Association of Railroad Passengers has been formed by 40 rail advocates in the Cornhusker State. Dan Lutz, a retired college professor and NARP Region 10 Director is leading the new group. NeARP will be working to increase Amtrak service through Nebraska; presently, the only train there is the California Zephyr, which passes through the state in the pre-dawn hours. NeARP can be reached at 3915 Apple St., Lincoln NE 68503. *Why Not A Pampered Passenger? The Philadelphia Gateway Parking Garage at 15th & Vine holds a monthly drawing; the winner receives a free month of parking in "the best spot in the garage" decorated with potted palms, red carpet and set off with a velvet rope and "Pampered Parker" banners. A "Pampered Passenger" response is in order. It couldn't take place on board the train, but perhaps a special waiting area could be set aside at the rider's Center City station. A Pampered El Rider should be added to the program for Market-Frankford riders as a reward for enduring another summer in the Sweat Machines.-TB **Alabama Crash Kills 47 The worst accident in Amtrak's history ended 47 lives in an Alabama bayou. The death toll of the Sunset Limited's Sept. 22 derailment exceeds the total number of passengers killed in all Amtrak's previous accidents in 23 years. It is now nearly certain that the accident was caused when a barge pushed by a river tug got into the wrong waterway and struck the railroad trestle. But what happened on board the MV Mauvilla is still unclear. Fearing lawsuits, neither tug captain Andrew Stabler nor owner Warrior & Gulf Navigation Co. has made a public explanation. Drug and alcohol testing of the boat crew may be worthless, since nine hours elapsed between the accident and the tests. The issue of rail safety got great attention in the media following the derailment, precisely because fatal train accidents are so rare. People accept serious risks they face everyday, most notably riding in a car, but are very afraid of the least common threats. And regrettably, news reports were full of hysterical reactions which would be funny if not for the seriousness of the accident. One TV reporter suggested Amtrak trains should carry life preservers for all on board! A more effective way to improve the safety of our nation's transportation system would be to give Amtrak the money it needs to buy more trains and get more passengers out of their cars and onto the rails. Decades of statistics have proven that private automobiles are ten times more dangerous than passenger trains or commercial airliners. Another misunderstanding pertained to reported safety devices on the bridge. The system which automatically turns signals red if a bridge collapses is the ordinary track circuit, in use for a century. If a rail is broken, the small electrical current passing through it is cut off, and 'fail-safe' signals turn red. But the barge collision shifted the track and didn't break it. Special hazard detection wires are used in places where the risks are greater, such as rockslide or avalanche areas, but there was not supposed to be any boat traffic under this trestle, and the cost of equipping every one of the nation's thousands and thousands of rail bridges with collision detectors should be much better spent on more effective safety measures.-MDM *Train Show Volunteers Wanted DVARP is planning to have information tables at several upcoming train shows, in Abington, Cherry Hill, and other locations, to remind members of the public who like trains that they can do quite a lot to support passenger rail service in their community. If you'd like to spend some time talking with your neighbors at one of these shows, call DVARP's Volunteer Coordinator: Betsey Clark, at 215-222- 3373, message box 4. *Volunteer Opportunity: Bicycle Liason The needs of rail passengers often coincide with the needs of bicyclists. Local cyclists have an effective advocate in the Delaware Valley Bicycle Coalition; we'd like to better coordinate our bike-transit projects with the Coalition. If you are a bicyclist who also wants improved rail transit, why not volunteer to serve as our Bicycling Liason? Call our volunteer hotline. *Volunteer Opportunity: Newsletter Distribution DVARP is planning a project to seek out new distribution points for this newsletter in 1994. Volunteers from all parts of our region are wanted for the task of identifying possible distribution sites and dropping off newsletters at them. This isn't very time-consuming, so if you've been looking for an easy way to get involved with DVARP, don't wait-call Betsey Clarke at DVARP Voice-mail, 215-222-3373, message box 4. *DVARP Tours High-tech Control Center Almost thirty DVARP members and friends saw Amtrak's Centralized Electrification and Traffic Control Center (CETC) on a special tour last month. After answering questions about the recent renovations to 30th Street Station, Amtrak guide Tom Kane took the visitors to a conference room high atop the station. There, the DVARP people looked though picture windows into CETC while Kane explained how the computerized dispatching center worked. Thanks to Amtrak for giving us this glimpse of its operation, and to Sharon Shneyer for arranging the tour. *DVARP Nears Membership Record DVARP President Chuck Bode informed the General Meeting that DVARP is close to an all-time record number of dues-paying members. He asked for a little extra push to recruit new members and set a record. Members discussed ways of carrying out that effort; a new brochure will be prepared for 1994 and we will be going out to more community events to spread our message. You can do your part by telling friends, neighbors, and colleagues at work about the need for better passenger train service. **Dates of Interest SEPTA on Site (RRD): Thursday mornings: 7:30 to 9:00 am, at Suburban Station or Market East Station. New Jersey ARP Annual Meeting: Sat., Oct. 9, 10:00 at Nassau Inn, Princeton. See details above. Philadelphia Trolley Coalition: Thu., Oct. 14, 7:00 pm, at Roy Rogers restaurant, Germantown Ave. below Mermaid Loop. Call Joel Spivak, 755-7717 for more information. DVARP South Jersey Committee: Sat., Oct. 16, 10:30 to 12:00 at 104 Edison Ave., Collingswood, NJ. DVARP General Meeting: Sat., Oct. 16, 1:00 to 4:00 at Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ. Guest speaker from NJ Transit. DVARP Transit Committee: Tue., Oct. 19, 5:00 to 5:45 at Market East Station, Section A waiting area. SEPTA Citizen Advisory Committee: Tues., Oct. 19, 5:45 pm at SEPTA Board Room, 714 Market St. SEPTA on Site (Suburban Transit): Wed., Oct. 20, 7:30 to 9:30 am and 3:30 to 5:30 pm at 69th St. Terminal, 7:30 to 9:30 am at Norristown Transportation Center SEPTA Board Meeting: Thu., Oct. 28, 3:00 at SEPTA Board Room, 714 Market St., 3rd Floor, Philadelphia Deadline for November newsletter material: Fri. Oct. 29 to Matthew Mitchell or in DVARP mailbox. Amtrak and commuter rail schedules change Sun., Oct. 31. Election Day: Tue., Nov. 2. Be sure to vote! Delmarva Rail Passenger Association: Thu., Nov. 4, 7:00 pm at State Senate Chambers, Legislative Hall, Dover. info: Doug Andrews, 302-995-6419. DVARP Commuter Rail Committee: Sat., Nov. 13, 12:00 at Chestnut Gourmet, 1121 Chestnut St., Phila. DVARP General Meeting: Sat., Nov. 20, 12:00 to 3:00 pm at Lansdale Public Library. Listings based on information provided to DVARP. Contact sponsor to confirm time & place. Call 215-222-3373, message box 3, to add your event to this calendar. **Up and Down the Corridor News of other Northeastern commuter rail and rail transit services *Arrests Made in Metro-North Robbery Five hoodlums boarded a Hudson line train while it was stopped at Glenwood station in Yonkers the evening of Sept. 16 and robbed a half-dozen passengers at gunpoint. Excellent detective work by MTA police led to the arrest of two suspects. The police used ticket records to find a passenger who got off the train at the scene of the crime. That witness saw the criminals before they put on their masks, and was able to identify them. *NJT "Bike Aboard" Expands NJ Transit has expanded its "Bike Aboard" program to its Main Line/Bergen County Line trains out of Hoboken. Cyclists must obtain a free NJT bike permit. NJT specifies that riders must carry two elastic bungee cords at least 24 inches long for the bikes to be strapped down. Bicycles are permitted during off-peak and weekend hours only. The Star Ledger reports that passes issued for the two lines previously cleared for bikes (North Jersey Coast and Raritan Valley) total 800. To obtain a permit or for more information call 1-800-772-3606. *"Clean Your Commute Day" New Jersey will join states from Virginia to Maine participating in a "Clean Your Commute Day," according to the Inquirer. The day is sponsored by the Ozone Transport Commission, a Northeast environmental group. **DVARP Phone & Voice-mail Directory DVARP main number (voice mail line) 215-222-3373 1 Chuck Bode, President 215-222-3373 5 Tom Borawski, VP-Transportation 215-552-4198 6 Robert H. Machler, VP-Administration 215-222-3373 5 Sharon Shneyer, VP-Public Relations 215-386-2644 3 Matthew Mitchell, Newsletter Editor 215-885-7448 4 Betsey Clark, Volunteer Coordinator 215-222-3373 8 Treasurer 215-222-3373 2 John Pawson, Commuter RR Comm. 215-659-7736 (6 to 9 pm please) 3 Transit Committee 215-222-3373 8 Don Nigro, South Jersey Committee 609-869-0020 Media Hotline (digital beeper) 215-552-4198 Computer e-mail address (internet) iekp898@tjuvm.tju.edu **Computer Corner: Seattle Metro On-line As more and more people find out its value, they get their employers to take advantage of the internet. Now the King County Metro of Seattle can be reached by e-mail: at the address bob.white@metrokc.gov This could be the beginning of a new era of public participation in transportation planning. Computer networking can let transit agencies and government publicize reports and information with ease, and field direct responses from citizens. Upcoming DVARP Meetings: Saturday, October 16, 1:00 to 4:00 Collingswood Public Library 771 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ Special presentation by NJ Transit on Burlington-Gloucester Corridor Assessment PATCO trains leave 16th & Locust every 11 minutes, including 12:31 pm From Collingswood Station, walk one block to Haddon Ave., turn left (towards Camden) walk three blocks to library on right. Saturday, November 20, 12:00 to 3:00 Lansdale Public Library Saturday, December 18, 1:00 to 4:00 Jenkintown-Wyncote Agenda for the October meeting: 1:00 Presentation on NJ Transit Burlington-Gloucester Study 2:00 Introductions, agenda, minutes 2:05 Issues requiring immediate action: Newtown, Bethlehem Line service 2:30 Other issues South Jersey Committee: Burlington-Gloucester Corridor Commuter Rail Committee: Airport Line SEPTA cost reductions Administration: 1994 dues 1994 meeting sites General: DVARP brochure Outreach and membership building Committee Meetings: South Jersey Committee: Sat., Oct. 16, 11:00 at 104 Edison Ave., Collingswood, NJ Transit Committee: Tues., Oct. 19, 5:00-5:45 at Market East Station, section A waiting area agenda: City and Suburban transit fares and fare collection Commuter Rail Committee: Sat., Nov. 13, 12:00 at Chestnut Gourmet, 1121 Chestnut St. *** End ***