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For The Transit Fans: Company Profile: SEPTA

Stalliongrad

Entry posted by Stalliongrad

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The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority services five counties in the State of Pennsylvania and one in the State of New Jersey. Unique, in that it is not a state agency, its primary responsibility is to the counties and the City of Philadelphia. It is the 6th Largest Rapid Transit System in the U.S.

 

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SEPTA New Flyer DE40LF

 

Type: Public

 

Fleet Size: 2,295 Multi-modal vehicles to include Buses, Trolleys, Streetcars and Subway Rolling Stock

 

Routes: 196

 

Manufacturer and Powerplant: SEPTA recently entered into a contract with NovaBus to replace its entire fleet which consists primarily of outdated Neoplan and NABI models. New Flyer models were acquired as a short term solution.

 

 

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SEPTA NovaBus LFS

 

Fare Collection: SEPTA is one of the few transit agencies which still use Tokens as a form of fare validation. SEPTA is in the process of introducing a long overdue Contactless Card Payment System on par with similar agencies on the East Coast. SEPTA's Contactless Card Payment System will be called SEPTA Key. (Like Ben Franklin's Key) Two Versions of the Septa Key will be offered. One with the riders name printed on it and one without the latter costing a bit more.

 

 

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SEPTA Tokens

 

Livery: All of SEPTA's vehicle fleet utilizes an unpainted white livery along with the corporate Blue and red "ribbon". SEPTA sells the sides, rear or entire vehicle exterior for advertising space.

 

 

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SEPTA Kawasaki LRV

 

Innovations: SEPTA is one of only two transit agencies across the U.S. that is known to operate all 5 of the most common types of transit vehicles to include; Regional Transit Rail, Heavy Rapid Transit Rolling Stock, Light Rail Vehicles, Electric Trolleybuses and Standard Diesel Buses.

 

 

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SEPTA ALP-44

 

Driving Dynamics: With 121 Bus Routes most in the City of Philadelphia, SEPTA encounters unique driving difficulties caused by its own impact on infrastructure. There aren't many places where transit buses encounter at grade rail vehicles as commonly as in Philadelphia.

 

 

SEPTA at work in Downtown Philadelphia

 

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Wind Chaser

I got to ride the Market-Frankford Line back in the spring. To a New Yorker like me, the tokens are quite the curiosity, but the contactless card is something to be envied as attempts to implement it here have failed.

 

I'd like to see you do a profile on the NYCTA, but before you do it, contact me as I have some pictures you should consider using.

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Wingnut

Nice to see an article on my hometown system and it was worth the wait.  :)  SEPTA may have it's shortcomings but lack of variety is not one of them.  About the only modes they don't run are diesel commuter trains and ferry boats. 

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lablayers

I've been a huge fan of SEPTA since I was a little filly (literally.) The roads here are poorly maintained/congested it's usually the best option when it comes to getting around the region, especially during rush hour.

 

I'm a regular rider of the Market-Frankford line for commuting, bus 57 takes me to various grocery stores, and busses 21/42/125 takes me to my commonly frequented spots across town. Their trolley routes (all except 10) covers most of West Philly & University City (mmm cheesteaks and college students!) 

 

Their regional rail network lets me travel as far north as Trenton (transfers to NYC via NJ Transit), as far south as Newark DE (shuttles to Baltimore), and as far west as Paoli (I was once there to visit DuckDuckGo) - but I mainly ride it to get across Center City for free (a commonly-known loophole.)

 

It's useful to have an unlimited anywhere Transpass handy, because it lets me travel across the suburbs for tech meetups, pick up friends the airport, and travel to the only Costco in the area (aka Warminster).

 

I do want to add that there is only one ALP-44 in rotation on SEPTA's Regional Rail network and it's used only as a backup train during rush hour. It's more common to see a newer Silverliner V and it's really nice :D

 

There's also service to Camden across the river not operated by SEPTA (notably PATCO, ferries, and NJ Transit's Atlantic City) but the mentality of the average Philadelphian is along the lines of "eww" so no one visits it.

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