Route "#s" - long routes

[John Swindler]

>Jim Holland wrote: Route lengths in other cities were measured from and 
>outer terminal  t-h-r-u  downtown to another outer terminal and sometimes 
>this made for a rather long route of 15 miles.  But this would be two 
>routes in Pgh and thus those extraordinarily long routes from other cities 
>were not so long.
>

As a comment, someone in the industry once remarked that Philadelphia's 23 
Germantown was really four routes:  South of Market St.; North of Market 
St.; Broad St. Subway feeder; and local line in Chestnut Hill.

The advantage of through routes is reduced turning movements in downtown, 
eliminating a downtown transfer for some riders, and downtown distribution 
(reason for 22 Crosstown).  Disadvantage is unequal headways and demand at 
either end, and maintaining schedules.  For latter, using Baltimore's route 
8 as an example, service disruption in Towson would also affect Catonsville 
service.

>Jim also mentioned:  I think the PRCo system of 42 DORMONT  and  43 NEELD 
>makes much more sense!
>

Seems that there was no consistent practice for route numbers for 
Pittsburgh.  There is 42-43; 35-36-37; 68-69; 13-14; 10-11; 64-66.  But 
there was also 38-38A; 55-55A; and wasn't there a 56A to Lincoln Place and 
also something called 88 Frankstown Short?????

I guess from the Railways perspective, the question was "what do we have to 
do to minimize confusing the public".  As Jim said, using different numbers 
helps.

John S.

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com