[PRCo] Re: Wabash Tunnel in Operation

[John Swindler]

PAT owns it.  Acquired for TERL or Skybus. (for those old enough)  Later 
used for storing old buses in case of another gas shortage, but a damp 
tunnel environment does wonders on structural steel.

I thought recent conversion to highway use was tied in with the West Busway 
project, just not sure how - or why.  Those decisions are made by people 
many echelons above my pay grade.  According to recent Post Gazette article, 
there is a maintenance contract costing around half million per year.  But 
didn't read article closely, nor familiar with situation.  But there is a 
lingering suspicion....  well, we will just let it go at that.

Try a seach under Wabash Tunnel at the Post Gazette website.

John


>From: "Bob Dietrich" <bdietrich at comcast.net>
>Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
>Subject: [PRCo] Wabash Tunnel in Operation
>Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 08:58:06 -0500
>
>How does one "get rid" of a tunnel?  Collapse the roof?  Mt. Worshinton has
>enough mine subsidence already.
>
>Anyway the Wabash Tunnel is now a HOV thorofare.  Isn't it?  Can't full
>automobiles and Humvees use it during rush hours?  Who owns it?
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
>[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of John
>Swindler
>Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 8:47 AM
>To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>Subject: [PRCo] Re: PCCs in Operation
>
>
>
>Or rebuilt the last of the GOH cars (was suppose to be 141 cars, but 
>stopped
>
>at 112 - and kept the money.) and then let them sit in open at Germantown
>for remaining years on 12 year expected life  (as required by feds) had
>passed - then got rid of them.  That 12 year life business is involved with
>current Wabash Tunnel costs.  If PAT gets rid of Wabash Tunnel, feds want
>some of their money back.
>
>And then there was MBTA management getting upset when a new program manager
>would not sign off on authorizing trackless trolley repair costs to be
>charged against PCC rehab project.
>
>John
>
> >From: Fred Schneider <fwschneider at comcast.net>
> >Reply-To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> >To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> >Subject: [PRCo] Re: PCCs in Operation Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 17:31:03 
>-0500
> >
> >Philadelphia is and always has been a law of its own.   Remember how
> >the money for the Blue Route was diverted to mass transit in the
> >1970s and the Blue Route was cancelled.   Later own the Federal
> >government paid again for the Blue Route ... the expressway from
> >Chester to the Northeast Extension of the Turnpike.   And remember
> >how they rebuilt trolley route 6 and then abandoned it.   Hey, its
> >Philadelpha.
> >
> >On Jan 18, 2007, at 4:37 PM, Joshua Dunfield wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Jim Holland wrote:
> > >> There may be a line that is crossed somewhere on the ADA issue.
> > >> Special platforms were built at stops for wheelchairs;  portable ramp
> > >> from TrolleyCar to platform is set in place manually by the
> > >> operator on
> > >> PCCs.       Don't know requirements about older equipment.       I
> > >> may
> > >> have heard but don't remember.       Activists have considerable
> > >> influence in SF as most seem to know.
> > >
> > > The ADA tried pretty hard to not cause massive disruption in the
> > > short term.
> > > Historic routes are exempt; vehicles already in use in 1990 are
> > > exempt.
> > > (See Section 12142 of the ADA:
> > > http://finduslaw.com/
> > > americans_with_disabilities_act_of_1990_ada_42_u_s_code_chapter_126
> > > )
> > >
> > > The "PCC-II"s on the 15 were rather obviously remanufactured, so
> > > they're not
> > > exempt.  OTOH, most of the Market-Frankford and Broad Street Subway
> > > stations,
> > > even important ones like 15th/City Hall, are not ADA-compliant.  I
> > > assume they
> > > fall under 12147(b)(1)(2)(B):
> > >
> > >  (B) Extension for extraordinarily expensive structural changes
> > >           The Secretary may extend the 3-year period under
> > > subparagraph
> > >         (A) up to a 30-year period for key stations in a rapid rail or
> > >         light rail system which stations need extraordinarily
> > > expensive
> > >         structural changes to, or replacement of, existing facilities;
> > >         except that by the last day of the 20th year following July
> > > 26,
> > >         1990, at least  2/3  of such key stations must be readily
> > >         accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
> > >
> > > At their current rate I doubt SEPTA will make the deadline, unless
> > > they've
> > > managed to interpret "key stations" to leave out most of Center City.
> > >
> > > -j.
> > >
> >
> >
>
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