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SEPTA buses are accessible. They all have a lift or a ramp making it easy for everyone to get on and off a bus whether they use crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair/scooter. Those are obvious to the naked eye. But what about SEPTA's other means of travel (Market-Frankford El; Broad Street Subway; Regional Rail and Subway-Surface Trolley Routes)? Many users prefer those means as an alternative. At a recent public hearing before the Philadelphia City Council, SEPTA ADA Coordinator Cynthia Lister basically told the world just how SEPTA is making public transportation user friendly and accessible.
For those of you who have never met Cynthia Lister, you have missed a lot. She has been with the transit authority for 15 years and serves in an incredible number of capacities. She works closely with SEPTA's Engineering, Maintenance & Construction staff; Operations; Capital Planning; New Vehicles; Training; Customer Service; Legal; the Office of Civil Rights and other departments that ensure the Authority continues to meet regulatory requirements and continues to work aggressively to meet the needs of customers with disabilities. In the latter, she serves as the liaison with the SEPTA Advisory Committee for Accessible Transportation (SAC). SAC is frequently called upon for their advice and input on vehicle, service and facility projects. She also works closely with the Federal Transportation Agency - the agency that oversees SEPTA's ADA compliance.
SEPTA has 143 bus, subway, light rail and rail lines, and 2,661 vehicles in its fleet. Bus ridership among customers with wheelchairs/scooters has burgeoned (see accompanying article). And the work in other areas indicate SEPTA is working hard to accommodate everyone's needs.
Currently, 18 of SEPTA's 28 Market-Frankford El stations (including the Frankford Transportation Center & 69th Street Terminal) are elevator accessible and five (5) more (5th St; 46th St; 52nd St; 63rd St; Millbourne) are under construction. The Regional Rail already has 55 key stations stations accessible. Six (6) additional stations are in various stages of completion. The Broad Street Subway/Ridge Spur Line has seven accessible stations, including Walnut-Locust Station, just south of City Hall. More than 20 other stations among those groups are in the design and/or planning stage. Customers can call SEPTA Customer Service (215-580-7800) or check SEPTA's website for a complete list of stations with elevators and stations under construction.
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