The Challenge of Improving Philadelphia's Transportation System

Transportation is a vital aspect concerning the functionality of any metropolitan region. The systems of transport that arise in major urban centers strongly contribute to the greater functionality of the region. Having a good system in place is key component to establishing a green city. In the City of Philadelphia, the transportation system is in fact rather reasonable. First of all, the City of Philadelphia should be credited for at least having one. Many major urban centers have surprisingly poor transport systems or simply lack one of any large scale completely.

Although Philadelphia generally speaking has an efficient system in place (SEPTA), there is certainly room for improvement. If the goal for Philadelphia is to be the “greenest city in America”, the transportation system needs some work. This is one of the larger obstacles on Philly’s course to becoming a truly green city.

The nature of the relationship between the city’s transportation system and the regional population is complex. SEPTA could certainly do a better job of keeping the stations, trains, buses, etc. in better condition. More of an effort it seems could also be dedicated to maintaining a more cleanly environment. As far as SEPTA is concerned, having the financial resources is to keep all of the facilities in much better condition poses a real challenge. At the same time, a higher ridership would provide more funds for the organization to actually invest in improvements. In this way it is kind of a ‘catch twenty two’.

As far as the transportation efficiency of the greater Philadelphia metropolitan region is concerned, extensions of the train system should be seriously considered in the effort to ‘go green’. More specifically, a metro line connecting the Schuylkill River valley with central Philadelphia is a conceptual project that could prove to really pay off as the urban community in general attempts to go greener. The Schuylkill River valley, including the I-76 stretch running along the river from the King of Prussia area is one of the most heavily traveled stretches in the region. Traffic is usually fairly congested, especially during the rush hours. A subway/el line would serve a huge population and alleviate traffic volume while providing ecological benefits such as reducing air pollution. Other extensions have been discussed as well. There are many in support of extending the Broad St. Subway to the south across the Delaware River in order to support several New Jersey cities.

These are a few ways the greater system could be improved. Hopefully decision makers will recognize the importance that a good transportation system has on the greenness of a city.