First let’s dispel a few myths about transportation funding.  Public money has supported transportation of all types for 200 years.  Tax breaks and land grants accompanied railroad development, Federal and state money built the Interstate Highway system, and tax dollars have built major airports and marine terminals for years.

 

When it comes to commuter transportation, those services never recovered their long and short term costs from the fare box, even in peak usage times.  Private ownership made their money on the real estate developed along the line in which they most often had full ownership or controlling interests.

 

It makes all the sense in the world in 2007 to use highway tolls to fund mass transit, just as it pays for the roads and bridges.  Better transit systems that serve more destinations more frequently will ultimately reduce highway travel, and lower highway use means lower highway maintenance.  It just makes sense to see them as parallel development projects.  In the same manner every long-distance trailer that leaves the highway and is carried by rail takes wear and tear off major highways. Tractor-trailers should be reserved for only local delivery from key terminals.

 

The by-products are the environmental considerations of controlled and more efficient use of internal combustion vehicles.  Electric transit systems do the same.   

 

Where SEPTA is concerned however, there is another aspect that must be incorporated into any Harrisburg decision, and that is its management and oversight.  A legal tax-funded monopoly has responsibility to deliver efficient use of dollars and provide maximum service to the riding public.  The inept management of this organization currently and the lackluster and politically charged oversight from the current Board of Directors must be changed immediately and before they get another dime.

 

Jim Foster

Mt Airy

607 E. Phil-Ellena St .

Philadelphia Pa. 19119

215-438-4330

215-438-0973