I’m going to try live blogging from the courtroom where the SEPTA hearing is going on.
The highlight so far has been the introduction of a letter from the federal transportation administration to SEPTA telling it that it is inappropriate to raise fares without a study of the possible disparate impact on the poor and racial minorities.
Chris Zearfoss, of the city’SEPTA strategic planning team, has been explaining why SEPTA’s estimates of the percentage of riders who use transfers is absurdly low (8%). SEPTA uses as the denominator in its calculations what the industry jargon calls “unlinked trips.” If you transfer twice to get to your destination, you take 3 unlinked trips. If you want to know how many PEOPLE are affected by the elimination of transfers the proper denominator is linked trips. By that calculation, Zearfoss concluded that 19% of riders use transfer.
Last week SEPTA estimated the cost of retaining transfers at 1million. Zearfoss has been explaining that SEPTA has never explained where this number comes from.
Of course, if this is true the 19% (or 8% using SEPTA’s figures) of transfer users are being asked to put one third of the $29 million SEPTA claimed to need from this round of fare increases.
Nine systems that don’t have transfers have day passes that only cost between 2 and 3 times the price of a single trip. Every system that has a day pass with a much higher ratio also has transfers The ratio of SEPTA’s day pass to a single trip fare is 4.62. The conclusion is that day passes can’t replace transfers in Philly.
lunch break back at 1:30
We’re back.
Cross examination of Christopher Zearfoss is beginning. SEPTA’s lawyer is pointing out that Chris does not know every detail of the 27 other transit systems. Why anyone should be surprised by this is not clear. No one has pointed out the relevance of anything Chris did not know.
Dianne Reed Budget Director is now testifying about a report that examines how different demographic groups evaluate services provided by the city and other agencies.
80% of African Americans use SEPTA once a month or more. 57% of whites use SEPTA once a month or more.
74% of those with an income less than 10000 use SEPTA at least once a month. 73% of those with an income from 10000 to 30000 use SEPTA at least once a month. Usage drops at higher incomes.
Short recess
We are just coming back from recess now.
We had a long discussion of the statistical study that served as the basis for Dianne Reed’s testimony.
Now the lawyers are agreeing to allow some declarations into evidence including my own, precluding the need for us to testify.
We are now done for today. follow up briefs are due Thursday. The judge’s temporary restraining order remains in effect. We don’t know when a final decision will be rendered.
Presumably SEPTA is going to have to rummage in its closets for some more transfers or print some new ones.