SEPTA Releases Options for Future of Regional Rail

SEPTA announced three potential options for a long-term vision for Regional Rail. This marks phase two of Reimagining Regional Rail.

Reimagining Regional Rail is an initiative of SEPTA Forward, the authority’s Strategic Plan, to create a “lifestyle transit network” of frequent service to destinations across the region.

“SEPTA has one of the best rail systems in the country,” said SEPTA GM/CEO Leslie S. Richards. “The options released today will create a vision for better integration between Regional Rail and other SEPTA modes.”

The three options are based on public feedback, which includes thousands of survey responses, pop-up events at locations across the rail system, a virtual public meeting, and a comprehensive report on the state of the system and similar networks:

• Scenario 1: Focuses on consistent service throughout the network, providing service every 30 minutes
• Scenario 2: Focuses on more frequent service (every 15 minutes) in some areas of the system where demand supports it
• Scenario 3: Focuses on faster and integrated service across agencies, providing express services across the system all day

“This project was a great opportunity to learn why people use the system — and why they don’t,” said Jody Holton, SEPTA chief officer of Planning and Strategic Initiatives. “We engaged bus riders and non-riders near Regional Rail stations to understand why they chose the bus or other services over Regional Rail.”

SEPTA will collect feedback on phase two scenarios through a virtual tool that asks riders a series of questions and suggests a scenario that best fits their responses. Phase three will set the vision for the future of the system and develop a plan to implement short-, medium-, and long-term solutions later this year.