City Branch (was "Abandoned SEPTA Rail tunnel in philly?")

hammersklavier wrote:City Branch controversies are being stirred up again:

http://hiddencityphila.org/2012/06/what ... ight-rail/

http://hiddencityphila.org/2012/06/what ... ransitway/

Thanks for posting these two links, I stumbled across them this morning and was pleased to see someone beat me to them.

I also changed the title of this thread.

hammersklavier wrote:There is (or was) a turning loop along the 1100 block of Bainbridge, as well as around the 4000 block of Girard/Parkside. Instead of having light rail poke all the way down to South Street, though--not that that's necessarily a bad thing--you could install a turning loop along Locust.

Viable equipment would likely be like what's used on Boston's Green Line.

If you link the Ridge Spur and the City Branch cut together, you can use BSL-standard cars together, however, and the existing terminus at 8th/Market. It would also take advantage of an existing electric envelope, instead of having to remanufacture one for the trolley wire, keeping costs low on that front.

Being able to run to Bainbridge and/or out to West Fairmount Park would be great. Considering how cash-strapped SEPTA is these days, I would think that being able to build and expand the line in stages would be key to selling it. Start with just the cut, from Girard to maybe the BSL, and then expand north and south if the line does well.

The City Branch is about 2 blocks north of the nearest BSL station, Vine St, whose entrance is on the far side of very wide Vine St, making it more like a 3 block walk, which I don't think many commuters would enjoy even if you built a very expensive covered passageway.
What are you planning on having your suggested segment from Girard to the BSL do at the BSL?

It's only 1 block south of the Spring Garden station, an easy walk. I really think this is doable, it just takes political will.

Folks, let's think about the market here. Where are the passengers coming from and where do they want to go? Once you figure that out, then try to ascertain whether the City Branch is the best way to get them there, and only then do the technical questions come into play. No question the City Branch is an attractive right of way, but it's too far from the employers in Center City to be effective.

Here's a great article detail how the City Branch came to be.

http://hiddencityphila.org/2012/06/orig ... -man-made/

I wasn't aware that there was a canal there first.

Great article, Alex. I love reading stuff like this.

Matthew Mitchell wrote:Folks, let's think about the market here. Where are the passengers coming from and where do they want to go? Once you figure that out, then try to ascertain whether the City Branch is the best way to get them there, and only then do the technical questions come into play. No question the City Branch is an attractive right of way, but it's too far from the employers in Center City to be effective.

This, but consider also the Field of Dreams scenario, "Build it and they will come". The Callowhill factory area is getting hot, and the North Broad area is beginning to as well. A City Branch line can only help development in those areas. Not to mention having a clean, quick, one seat transit option from Center City to the Art Museum and eventually the Zoo, the Mann, the Please Touch Museum, and the entire Parkside area of Fairmount Park. I think a reasonably sited rail transit option can only be good for the city.

My personal feeling is that the only way it will draw ridership is if it is light rail and connects to and uses the old route 23 trolley tracks around the convention center area. If PATCO does eventually build their light rail along East Market, make that trackage the loop and don't go south of Market. Traffic issues will be there in conflicts with autos, but south of Market it would only get worse..