[PRCo] Re: pat__service__cuts__2007.01.23-changed to 2/1/07

[John Swindler]

>From co-worker:

As for Newark airport, NJ Transit only sells peak hour tickets.  And it is 
not a fixed surcharge for the Newark airport stop, but a proportional 
charge.  Further you go, the higher the surcharge.  And Fred's suggestion of 
using an Elizabeth ticket won't work.  There are faregates that require a 
Newark airport ticket to activate.

However, you can buy a Newark Airport-Newark ticket and a Newark-New York 
City off peak ticket from vending machines on the airport station platform.  
  That avoids the airport surcharge and peak hour surcharge for Newark-New 
York City portion of trip.  Same applys towards Trenton.  (never let it be 
said that we don't try to give you value for your state tax dollars)

As for PHL, its changed. (or maybe remembering that there were 6 fare zones 
and PHL was top of Penna. scale)  That's the problem with being around too 
long.  Yes, you are correct, Joshua.  It's a $5.50 fare both peak and 
off-peak.  And on a personal note, the fare change machines at Terminal E 
station do not work and the fare vending machines at this terminal do not 
accept the new $10 bills.  At least as of last October.  But SEPTA to 30th 
St. and Amtrak to Lancaster station did work very nicely to save my wife a 
trip to PHL.


As for cost to build LRT, depends on how much "gold plating" is involved.  
There was mention at TRB recently of a proposed study to compare 
US-vs-European practices, which seem to have lower costs.  (the 'gold 
plating' title goes back to Harvard Business Review article approx. 35 years 
ago.  It hasn't changed)

John



>From: Joshua Dunfield <joshuad at cs.cmu.edu>
>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>Subject: [PRCo] Re: pat__service__cuts__2007.01.23-changed to 2/1/07 Date: 
>Tue, 06 Feb 2007 19:52:08 -0500
>
>John Swindler wrote:
> > It's a six zone trip in Philly.  The soaking of the airline passengers 
>is
> > even more blatent at Newark.  Some have suggested it is to keep the cab
> > drivers happy.  I suspect it is a management decision not to let transit
> > interfere with the parking garage cash flow.
>
>The only thing in Zone 6 is Trenton.  PHL is Zone 5.  Which, including
>"Zone C", is technically the sixth zone.
>
>I don't know, the Newark soaking may be an accurate assessment of what
>the market will bear.
>
> > The 28X comments are interesting.  Busways may be ok, but the buses 
>still
> > get stuck in rush hour traffic.  Looked at experience with Overbrook LRT 
>vs
> > South busway schedules at city end, then wondered whose decision it was 
>to
> > go with an Airport busway (to use original selling point) rather then 
>light
> > rail.
>
>Building anything, LRT or busway, all the way out to the airport would have
>cost a lot more.  And unlike the busway, you can't get a one-seat ride from
>a "partway" LRT.
>
>The Wabash bridge component would have helped a little, but as I recall, 
>28Xs
>would still have had to traverse downtown streets.
>
>-j.
>

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