ROADS COL.……FOR AUG. 2—JMR
CASH FOR CLUNKERS
The House voted overwhelmingly Friday to rush $2 billion into the popular but financially strapped “Cash for Clunkers” car-purchase program after learning the trade-in incentive for buying more fuel-efficient vehicles was running out of money.
President Barack Obama said he was encouraged by the House action on the program that has exceeded expectations. Senate action is likely next week, ensuring that the program won’t be affected by the cash shortage.The Car Allowance Rebate System or CARS is designed to help the economy by car sales.
Can owners can receive up to $4,500 depending upon criteria for trading in their old cars for new ones with higher gas mileage.
Congress had initially put aside $1 billion for the program. About 40,000 vehicle sales had been completed through the program, but dealers estimated they were trying to complete transactions on another 200,000 vehicles.
U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, on Friday expressed strong support for continuing the initiative, citing its positive impact on car dealers. He was in contact with local dealers Thursday.
“It is important that the program be continued even if it may be necessary to reduce the amount of the vouchers and/or increase the improvements required in fuel efficiency,” he said.
The stimulus money would still be used for energy needs while also helping struggling dealers, which are small businesses responsible for more than 70 percent of job creation, Sestak said.
SEPTA RAIL SURVEY
“What’s in a name?” begins William Shakespeare’s famous quote from Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet.” “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
I don’t know how sweet some SEPTA Regional Rail trains or stations smell, but SEPTA all of a sudden is considering getting rid of the “R” (for rail) train route designations in use for a quarter century. SEPTA honchos say the present system is confusing to infrequent riders – like this supposedly will attract more customers – and tourists.
Some city officials are concerned that the new naming system would be part of a broader plan to change the way SEPTA operates its trains, but SEPTA insists that only the names would change, not the operations.
SEPTA has 13 train routes designated R1 (Airport Line) through R8. There are two different final destinations for each R route, for example some R3 trains have a final stop at Media or Elwyn in the county and another R3 goes to West Trenton, N.J. The latter end-of-the-line would be really out of the way for a new commuter who didn’t know where he was going in trying to go to Delco.
Also, confusing are the similar R2 designations for both the R2 Warminster and the R2 Wilmington/Newark, Del.
The Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers says there’s a general consensus that the current system is confusing.
I’m all for finding a way to make your way around the suburbs and city easier, but I don’t know how much such a signage project would cost in the long run, what with the expense of paint, installation and sign materials -- and labor.
If federal stimulus money could be directed toward this project, that’s one thing, but otherwise I feel SEPTA has more important priorities with regular riders than worrying about the occasional rider or tourist.
But if this brainstorm goes through, I think they should still use the R designation, but with a different number for each route. Using the beginning of a route, such as Market Street East and the end, such as Elwyn for the R3 line would require a longer sign: “R3 Market St. East./Elwyn.”
I say stick with the outbound designations from the Philadelphia starting points at Suburban Station, Market Street East and 30th Street.
If you have any suggestions or comments you can go online at www.septa.org, and fill out an 18-question survey. I did.
It remains to be seen if we “…should leave well enough alone,” as Mark Twain aptly said.
Preliminary work will begin Monday on a $21.7 million economic recovery project to install Intelligent Transportation System components on I-95 in Philadelphia and Bucks counties and I-676.
Crews will work over the next two weeks to take core samples of the subsurface where new overhead dynamic message signs are to be erected on I-95 between the Route 1 Interchange in Bucks County and the Broad Street interchange in Philadelphia, PennDOT said.
The core samples are needed for the design of foundations for the new sign structures. During the next two weeks, I-95 drivers will encounter short-term shoulder closures Mondays through Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and short-term lane closures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning.
The contractor will start on I-95 South at the Route 1 Interchange and crews will proceed south to the Broad Street Interchange. Upon reaching Broad Street, crews will move onto I-95 North.
This is the first of three ITS projects financed with economic recovery funds that will proceed into construction this year to install closed-circuit television cameras, dynamic message boards, incident detectors and travel-time readers to help pinpoint incidents and alert motorists of travel conditions on I-95, said PennDOT District Executive Lester C. Toaso.
Toaso said the state’s network of ITS equipment on I-95 currently covers the area between Philadelphia International Airport and Route 132 (Street Road). The three upcoming ITS projects will close coverage gaps between these two points, while extending coverage north to the New Jersey line and south to the Delaware state line.
The project financed with federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act covers 19 miles of I-95 between Broad Street and I-676 in Philadelphia, and between Academy Road and Route 1 in Philadelphia and Bucks counties. It also includes 2.1 miles of I-676 between I-76 and I-95 in Philadelphia.
On I-95, PennDOT will install 17 new closed-circuit television cameras, 10 dynamic message signs, 54 travel time readers and 40 incident detectors. Crews will also upgrade 14 existing closed-circuit TV cameras and four existing message signs. On I-676, the contractor will install three dynamic message signs and vehicle detectors.
Within the five-county Philadelphia region, PennDOT will invest $254.4 million of federal economic recovery funds on 29 transportation projects, which include road/bridge improvements, ITS installations, traffic signal upgrades, multi-use trail construction and curb ramp replacements.
BARRY BRIDGE
The Commodore Barry Bridge will have two 15-minute stoppages in both directions 12-5 a.m. Thursday because of PennDOT ramp construction on the Pennsylvania side of the bridge.
Traffic Delays
Rumble strip installation countywide – sections of Routes 1, 3, 13, 322, 352 and 491, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Bethel – Naamans Creek Road, Bethel Sewer Authority utility installation between Pyle and Foulk roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Also, Naamans Creek Road, utility installation between Ashbrook Avenue and Foulk Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 21. Work began June 4.
Upper Chichester – Naamans Creek Road, Southern Delaware County Authority utility installation, closed/detoured between Larkin and Meetinghouse roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m., detour posted through Sept. 6.
Also, Chichester Avenue, milling between Bethel Avenue and Larkin Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday.
Holmes Road/Amosland Road – Ridley Township, Prospect Park and Norwood, Aqua utility installation between MacDade Boulevard and Chester Pike 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 2, detour posted.
Baltimore Avenue – Lansdowne, East Lansdowne, Upper Darby, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation, closed/detoured between Church Lane and Lansdowne Avenue, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., detour posted weekdays through Nov. 30.
Springfield – Sproul Road (Route 320), road reconstruction/widening between Baltimore Pike and Route 420, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 14. Work began July 6.
Tinicum – Second Street, Aqua Pa. utility installation between Erickson and Putcan avenues 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 31. Work began June 1.
Middletown and Media – Baltimore Pike, AT&T conduit installation with lane restrictions between Routes 452 and 352, 7 p.m.-6 a.m. weeknights through Aug. 28. Work began April 20.
Haverford – Coopertown Road, Aqua installation, closed/detoured between College Avenue and Darby Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 28. Work began April 20.
Also, College Avenue closed/detoured 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays between Coopertown Road and Spring Mill Lane through Aug. 28. Work began April 20.
Chester — Flower Street, ramp construction with a new traffic pattern at Fourth and Second streets, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Also, Norris Street, ramp construction with lane restrictions at Front Street and Delaware Avenue, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Ridley Park – Ridley Avenue, Aqua utility installation, closed/detoured between Constitution Avenue and Cresswell/Tasker streets 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays and through Aug. 28. Work began March 9.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.