SEPTA gets into
the (Torresdale) Loop

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

SEPTA chief engineer Jeff Knueppel remembers the old look of the transit agency’s Torresdale Loop.
Bus drivers would pull into the mostly open lot, located on Torresdale Avenue, just south of Cottman Avenue.
Meanwhile, riders would stand in the lot, making sure to stay out of the path of the buses, but with no guaranteed safe spot.
On Monday, SEPTA dedicated the new-look Torresdale Loop, complete with a pedestrian crosswalk and four passenger boarding islands.
"This is a big safety improvement," Knueppel said.
SEPTA general manager Joseph Casey attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, along with City Councilwoman Joan Krajewski (D-6th dist.), U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-13th dist.), state Rep. Mike McGeehan (D-173rd dist.), state Sen. Mike Stack (D-5th dist.) and a Mummers string band.
The facility is handicapped-accessible and is home to the Route 28, 56, 70 and 84 buses.
Knueppel said Krajewski came to SEPTA about the project, and the agency and elected officials worked with the Tacony Civic Association, the Major Artery Revitalization Committee (MARC) and the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP.
Besides the crosswalk and boarding islands, other upgrades include individually assigned bus lanes, a covered waiting area, benches, decorative light posts, informational and directional signage, landscaping, perimeter fencing, reinforced retaining walls, a paved surface and trashcans.
The Philadelphia Mural Arts Commission created a wall mural titled SEPTA Through the Years.
Knueppel is proud that the job was completed on time and on budget, and with the support of riders and the community.
About 1,000 passengers use the site every day. It is especially crowded during school dismissal. Now, they have two safe places to stay until their bus arrives.
"They can sit on benches or wait under the shelter," Knueppel said.
The elected officials were pleased with the finished product. The previous site included a newspaper stand and a vandalized shelter.
"Take a look," Stack said. "It’s beautiful. It looks so much better than before."
Stack credited SEPTA with becoming a national leader in the quest by the U.S. to become independent of other countries for its energy.
Schwartz believes SEPTA plays an important role in residential and commercial communities such as the area near Torresdale and Cottman avenues. The loop, she added, will fit in well with all of the other improvements along Torresdale Avenue that are being funded by federal and state dollars.
McGeehan thinks individuals will use public transportation if it looks like the Torresdale Loop — appealing, inviting and attractive. He’s glad the unappealing Torresdale Avenue trolley tracks have been replaced in an earlier, separate project, saying the new flat paving is quieter, safer and more aesthetically pleasing.
Casey said the demand for public transportation is growing as oil prices rise. As a result, SEPTA is expanding service.
As an example, at the Torresdale Loop, the Route 28 bus is running on Sundays, while the Route 56 is offering more service on weekday peak hours and the Route 70 is adding buses during peak and non-peak hours.
SEPTA is converting to a fleet of hybrid electric vehicles, which reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com