Is Now the Time to Build a Subway Along Busy Roosevelt Boulevard?

NBC10’s Randy Gyllenhaal examines the push, by some, to build a subway line along the busy Roosevelt Boulevard. Some lawmakers see this as “the moment” to build the train line in the grassy median. It would come at a big cost, however.
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[@Limosethe]

When it comes to building public transit, the answer is always yes.

[@samuelbennie7690]

IF there was more local support less cars would probably off the roads. SEPTA needs to expand . The forecast of 100k riders vs 10k riders ....I'll take the 100k riders thats gonna generate money, and make a good investment. The Center City Commuter tunnel was a option and it was chosen and today the regional rail runs through downtown making it easier to commute from point A to point B. I'm for a Roosevelt Blvd Subway !!!!!!

[@josephheston9238]

At least with the Boulevard Subway, I wouldn't have to contend with Regional Rail. Plus I'd like to know who decided that the Torresdale R-7 station should be Zone 3? No Regional rail station within the city limits should be Zone 3, because if SEPTA is using distance to justify it, then SEPTA should make Darby, Fernwood-Yeadon, and Lansdowne Zone 1 because those 3 stations are closer to Center City than Eastwick is.

[@homeoftek5844]

I'm a Philly native and I disagree with SEPTA needing to expand. We already have bus routes that go up and down the Roosevelt boulevard. Why add a subway down there??? We already have an extensive regional rail system, a Patco High-speed Line that takes you to NJ, The Market Frankford Line and The Broad Street Line

[@theraginginfernape9496]

@@homeoftek5844I use this pathway daily. Just needing to walk to the boulevard to get to a station on a single line to center city, instead of catching a bus then get on the L is cheaper and easier. Yes there is technically a single bus route going to center city along the boulevard but not only is it *unreliable* (Still SEPTA afterall, go figure), it is by far slower than just getting on a train with no traffic intervention. Buses can only do so much in terms of public transit. And yes those lines you mention do help make our system seem really good compared to other cities, it is the sheer scope of of connectivity this expansion would bring. Connecting into a car-ruled hellscape suburb would help people who don't have reliable car or bus access on their own. in general it will generate economic interest in North Philly as well. There's a larger scope of what's going on here, and it's Septa's ambition to help the city catch up in terms of rail service to other cities and restore what was once an impeccible system of public transit that didn't rely solely on buses

[@homeoftek5844]

@@theraginginfernape9496 maybe it would be a good idea to make a subway for the Boulevard because catching the bus on it might be a hassle let alone because the Boulevard is big. They should build a RBL (Roosevelt Boulevard Line) from maybe Philadelphia Mills to at least Hunting Park if not all the way to Center City

[@johnchambers8528]

Every time I have driven the Roosevelt Blvd. I noticed that nice wide median and wonder why we don’t have some kind of rail transit running down it. Running busses along the road is ok but they also get caught up in rush hour traffic. Having an express trolley, subway or surface train would run faster and appeal to car drivers seeing it speed along while they were caught in traffic. While it may cost a lane of traffic cut off in places for stations or to let the train or trolley use the existing underpasses along the road. It would be worth it and if enough people ride would help justify any reduction of traffic lanes needed for the transit service. If you ever visited Chicago besides their downtown loop El they use the median of several of their expressways to run subway or El type trains on them. So it can be done.

[@1stwonder788]

If it’s done, I can see it being two local tracks starting at the branch off. They could knock the median out and leave it open and have overpasses at important intersections. Express lanes that go under oxford circle and grant Ave might form a obstacle though

[@yvonneplant9434]

Explain why it was never expanded in the first place.

[@josephheston9238]

Because Lord and Master Frank Rizzo decided to do the Commuter Tunnel instead because he purchased a house in Chestnut Hill.

[@1stwonder788]

@@josephheston9238and greed

[@bryn494]

Because it's Philly :D

[@libertubey2199]

@josephheston9238 Rizzo wanted to do both the Roosevelt Blvd subway and the Commuter Tunnel. USDOT told him that they will fund only one of the two projects. He chose the Commuter Tunnel. Besides that, the first two World Wars, territorial politicians, various past (and present) SEPTA Board members, and white NIMBYs over the years prevented the Roosevelt Blvd Subway from being a reality. It's not a matter of SEPTA and the City of Philadelphia not being able to get it done, they WON'T.

[@uptown215]

Back in the 70s and 80s northeast was extremely racist and wanted no blacks up there so I can imagine that playing a part

[@TajmirTheRandomFan]

it would be a great idea

[@NicholasRizzio]

Yes please!

[@bjt81366]

Nope, it makes way too much sense, so it will never happen. Philly's DNA is built on not doing anything big. It took 45 years to cap I 95 at Penns Landing.

[@gregorymontgomery6666]

Yes I think septa should build a subway line on the Roosevelt boulevard because it much safer for people.

[@MrLamont215]

They were trying to build this decades ago, but use the money for other things.

[@Jsd8675]

HE proposed it? lol wtf

[@DavidLopez-gz2jc]

forget de mono rail....we need a sub on roosevelt boulevard.

[@Sclass_Ent]

3,000 + JOBS

[@sw1412]

I HATE, HATE the boulevard

[@bjt81366]

We will absolutely be on Mars first.

[@robotx9285]

Y E S

[@Wewwers]

FORKS

[@RedArrow73]

Not a Subway . . . A Concrete prefab EL!

[@Sclass_Ent]

#JayAruz Thank you for RFP

[@RedArrow73]

He's right.

[@robroberts5244]

But lets spend 100 billion on Ukraine lol

[@will_from_pa]

The time to build it was 30 years ago. Obviously yeah, build the dam subway

[@mariojrog9465]

lol

[@andrewholloway517]

61 years and counting the tunnel is already there but nothing has been done in all this time .talk talk talk 🦜 cheewed up grass.😅

[@dreamcage1801]

We don’t deserve nuttin nice in this cty

[@SoapBoxMediaTV]

No mention here of the imbalance of voting clout among the surrounding counties.

[@Mygreyhoundchannel]

$10 billion dollars? You better build a baby bullet train to Atlantic City!!!

[@wilzdegreat]

Awesome idea 😂 Tranq and Zombie drug access now extended via Roosevelt Blvd all the way up to Neshaminy. Excellent!!!🎉👍🏼👏

[@ck1938]

That's where they come from anyways. So that's awesome for them to have a way back home so they can zombie on their own yards.

[@1stwonder788]

Y’all wild😂😂😂

[@bill9989]

Why does it have to be a subway? Run a light rail down the center. But don't do anything until they can make the Broad Street Subway safe. Without that, nobody will ride the extension.

[@thisisaname3283]

If you do Light Rail, you have to deal with crossing traffic at busy intersections

[@ianhomerpura8937]

Grade separation means faster trains.

[@Wins_And_Losses]

@@thisisaname3283Exactly, people think Roosevelt is dangerous now. Imagine it with train/trolley crossings🥴disaster waiting to happen.

[@homeoftek5844]

What's wrong with the BSL???

[@theraginginfernape9496]

@@homeoftek5844nothing inherently, i think bro just hates seeing crackheads

[@lisaleidy344]

We can’t have anything nice in this city, forget about it.

[@petergozinya6122]

We could put speed cameras in the subway and fine the train operators. That would fund the project. PS: I’m staunchly opposed to anymore public transportation projects that bring city folks to the suburbs.

[@randomscb-40charger78]

Ah yes because a subway line should obey the speed limits of an adjacent road, what the hell kind of logic is that?

[@johnchambers8528]

I live in Delaware County and we use SEPTA’s suburban bus and trolley lines to access the El into Philadelphia. I have not heard of criminals invading our neighborhoods using SEPTA. Anyway they could still access the suburbs using SEPTA’s regional rail lines and I haven’t heard about any problems coming from that. Good public transit if anything discourages crime because there are too many people riding that could identify possible criminals.

[@obersturmfuhrer88]

It can bring criminals to the suburbs by not using their own cars. Bad idea doing this. Septa will raise prices to $5 a ride. It's already too expensive.

[@josephheston9238]

Funny. People in South Jersey isn't complaining about PATCO.

[@wordsmatter3343]

Nobody wanna take a train

[@Limosethe]

Except for those that do

[@wordsmatter3343]

@@Limosethe bro in Philly nobody wants to take the train it’s filthy

[@Limosethe]

@@wordsmatter3343 Well, people are taking the train so people obviously do. Anyways you can just fix it

[@russianprincess3673]

Building a subway in a city where vast areas that are WAR ZONES it's reported worldwide about this city that's in a cataclysmic decline as is Amerika Much Blessings To Amerika 🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺

[@matthewburden9403]

People would not use it except traction enthusiasts. Practically ALL you see on the so-called boulevard are people passing through the city - - going out! Nearly ALL people commuting into center city from the north gravitate to the existing train stations, which do a pretty good job facilitation commuters. And please, do not even try to compare the public transportation needs of northeast Philadelphia to Brooklyn , Queens, or the Bronx or even Hoboken. And what is this non-sense putting subway station in the boulevard center lanes as people get killed every day just crossing those intersections on your boulevard by those in a hurry to - - get out of the city! The mayoral candidates of course want to see it because that's tens of billions (cost overruns) going into the city for a tunnel that would eventually need to be plugged as done on Arch Street east of Broad; and look what happened there. Only Northeast Philadelphians would gladly vote for a worthless subway construction project. Whoever suggested doing a Ph.D. thesis on such urban planning might first seek a little advise from MIT or Wharton.

[@johnchambers8528]

If that’s the case then why do many northeast residents today use connecting busses to get to the Frankford El to get into and home from center city. A faster direct subway line would have even more riders due to the speed getting them into and out of center city.

[@JermaniBurroughs]

& Students going to School, People riding the Boulevard Direct, & people who complain about traffic would definitely ride it .

[@ozzie.5o8]

Be great for criminals 😢😢thanks democrats

[@yvonneplant9434]

It wasn't built originally because of the fear that black people would "flood" the Great NE. At least that's what I've heard.

[@yvonneplant9434]

Ever check the crime stats in red areas? Of course you don't.

[@Xylkamela4ter]

its so fucking sad how thats the first thing you went to

[@Xylkamela4ter]

@@yvonneplant9434 it wasnt thats ridcilous but Americans can talk about anything without mentioning Race and politics

[@ck1938]

@@yvonneplant9434 I believe that to be true. But the whites with their Meth, Heroin, & Tranq, is flooding all the neighborhoods. So I'm all for the new route so they can take that crap back to their own backyards.