DRPA seeking federal money to reopen Franklin Square Station

http://planphilly.com/articles/2014/02/ ... ver-reopen" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In an email conversation, DRPA Director of Communications Timothy Ireland would say little more than, “A number of times over the years PATCO has conducted cost/benefit analyses, and we’ve concluded every time that the station would not generate enough ridership to justify the cost of reopening.”

When asked for more specific information on the cost of reopening the station and ridership projections, Ireland said, “PATCO is preoccupied with more pressing matters.”

So much for DRPA's own words in 2009
http://www.drpa.org/news/news.asp?param ... &Archive=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Delaware River Port Authority Commissioners have approved spending up to $500,000 to hire a professional design consultant to begin work to reopen the PATCO Franklin Square Station in Philadelphia.

Different board chairs at DRPA.

How do you know they went back on their word? Are you saying they didn't spend $500,000 to hire a professional design consultant?

I think they spent about $50k like 5 years ago to look into the structural challenges and anticipated ridership impacts of reopening the station. This analysis basically updated DRPA's understanding of what would be involved in reopening it. The $500k was on a list of projects, both transportation and non-transportation, that disappeared when the authority stepped away from spending on economic development projects.

Looks like it got an impromptu re-opening this evening rush:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/break ... uters.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Monday’s evening rush hour, some passengers were evacuated to the closed Franklin Square Station beneath Old City before being placed on another train to continue their eastbound trip...

Philly.com reports that PATCO is once again considering reopening Franklin Square station.

Personally, I will believe it when I see it, but it appears that the project is not dead yet.

dcipjr wrote:Philly.com reports that PATCO is once again considering reopening Franklin Square station.

Personally, I will believe it when I see it, but it appears that the project is not dead yet.

DRPA has so many problems with PATCO this would seem to be a lower priority than having cars and infrastructure that actually GET to Franklin Square.

As bizarre as it sounds, IMHO SEPTA would be a better operator for PATCO, especially if the connection at 8th st was restored.

PATCO is so bad they already contracted SEPTA to perform their escalator maintenance.

I wondered about that. PATCO had a maintenance contract with a fixed expiration date, and when the date rolled around, no one at PATCO had arranged for continued maintenance? It would seem there must be a backstory to that, if we only knew what it was.

dcipjr wrote:Philly.com reports that PATCO is once again considering reopening Franklin Square station.

Personally, I will believe it when I see it, but it appears that the project is not dead yet.

Another $500,000 study which nothing will become of.

See you all in 5 more years.

Clearfield wrote:

dcipjr wrote:Philly.com reports that PATCO is once again considering reopening Franklin Square station.

Personally, I will believe it when I see it, but it appears that the project is not dead yet.

DRPA has so many problems with PATCO this would seem to be a lower priority than having cars and infrastructure that actually GET to Franklin Square.

As bizarre as it sounds, IMHO SEPTA would be a better operator for PATCO, especially if the connection at 8th st was restored.

PATCO is so bad they already contracted SEPTA to perform their escalator maintenance.

The only major problem I see if SEPTA was to take over operation of PATCO, would be anytime there is a strike by TWU Local 234, PATCO would also likely shut down. At least now whenever there is a SEPTA strike, PATCO continues to operate into the city, providing at least *some* transit service within Philly during a strike.

What union do the PATCO employees belong to?

Also TWU234. Different contracts obviously.

SCB2525 wrote:Also TWU234. Different contracts obviously.

I believe PATCO represented employees belong to Teamsters Local 676.

prr60 wrote:

SCB2525 wrote:Also TWU234. Different contracts obviously.

I believe PATCO represented employees belong to Teamsters Local 676.

Also I believe the PATCO union has a no strike clause, and working without a contract the last three years.

TWTRTECH wrote:Also I believe the PATCO union has a no strike clause, and working without a contract the last three years.

Actually transit workers are prohibited by state law (New Jersey) to strike.