Personally I haven't been using SEPTA as the R5's frequency on weekends is poor enough I'd rather just pay an inconvenience fee parking in the city rather than finding out what new thing broke on my SEPTA key. Drexel and other universities are beginning to go back to in person classes, and I do know that some businesses in the defense sectors are starting to mandate going back in person.
Looking at the future of work, it seems that people are more inclined to work hybrid weeks, 3 days in 2 days at home. I'm not sure how that would affect operations on Commuter style rail, or even if that will hold. For a type of industry whose procurement is dependent on 5-10 year projections on ridership...I'm not too sure where SEPTA should focus with too many things in the air.
SEPTA does need to promote more mass transit usage, the amount of times I keep having to remind people that they won't get mugged on regional rail is a bit confusing. It wasn't that bad before or during the pandemic.
The Scheduled 11:30 R5 Local to Malvern Next To Arrive on track 4 Section B