Yeah it's been pretty quiet for a while in here, unfortunately.

Hi I have lived in Philadelphia for the past 3 years, before that I lived in Seattle and New York City. This topic is one that caught my attention because since I have lived here I have felt the biggest issue with this city is its archaic transit system. While it isnt as bad as Seattle, which currently uses a system of underground buses and a 2 stop monorail that costs 4 dollars. It is also not expanding like Seattle's system, it seems there has been no improvement in anything dealing with SEPTA since the 1980's. For example you need exactly $2 cash to ride, there is no way around this short of tokens(honestly who uses tokens anymore) and if you think you can buy a ticket using a debit/ credit card forget it. Also everyone seems to forget that West Philadelphia has a somewhat expansive subway to surface line that is horribly under funded and in need of an upgrade. As for the Subway lines that form a glorified t shape, good luck efficiently using them if you do not live in a 4 block radius of Market or Broad st. Philadelphia seems to be going in the direction of an auto based city which is crazy if you ask me, the lack of thouroughfares and horrible parking problem makes this city prime for an expansive mass transit system. That being said the city is facing huge growth potential in the future, if we want this to come to fruition were gonna have to do better then a mass transit authority that is only second worst to the one in Detroit. I dont post on these boards much instead i mostly scan them for information but this issue is one that I have been thinking about a lot recently. IMO almost anyone could run SEPTA better then SEPTA does.

What do you mean "left out"??? North Jersey is well-connected by the Path and NJ Transit commuter trains. South Jersey, although there's a major lack of coverage, has the Patco system and the Atlantic City line. Personally, there should be more coverage on the PATCO system to Woodbury, Deptford, Cherry Hill, and Maple Shade, and NJT coverage to Cumberland County, Salem County, Jersey Shore towns (Ocean City, Cape May, Toms River, etc., and Burlington County). You're right about the quote in bold. Unfortunately, the Delaware Valley region is way more separated than up in NYC.

As for SEPTA, it's the WORST transit agency if not in the US, in the WORLD, PERIOD!!! I'm just sick of all the excuses I keep on hearing about how they won't extend to Reading because the tracks west of Norristown isn't electrified, no service to the Lehigh Valley (where at least 30% of it's residents commute to Phila), the lack of NJT commuter train service to SJ, only two subway lines in the sixth largest city in America, no further subway extensions in Phila (look at Boston, Chicago, DC, LA, Miami, Dallas, Houston, St Louis, SF, and even Atlanta. The difference is that they're all trying to expand their mass transit systems while Phila is stuck in the dark ages). It's very frustrating to live in such an urban city like Phila, but have a lack of coverage in this city, to put it in shorter words.