We need to talk about SEPTA Route 56
Channel: donoteat01
Date: 2019-10-23

How systemic disinvestment can turn a high-quality light rail line into just another bus.

Footage of Route 56 in 1991 courtesy youtube user tassiebaz, who has many excellent videos of various legacy transit systems:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RV6FhUxat0

The music is Tragic Overture, Op. 81, by Johannes Brahms. It is the version by the Musopen Symphony, and is in the public domain. You can find the recording here: https://musopen.org/music/2120-tragic-overture-op-81/

Support me on the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/donoteat

Photo credits:

nyc subway train
By MTAEnthusiast10 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60447175

denver silverliner
By Xnatedawgx - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49136571

510 spadina
By booledozer - Flexity outlook 4400 heading south, 2014 08 31 (5), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36632005

elfreth's alley
By User:BenFranske - Wikimedia file, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64655166

italian market
By Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States - Italian Market - Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaUploaded by GrapedApe, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25110978

septa bus
By Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63319214

septa trolleybus
By SEPTA66Route.jpg: Davidt8derivative work: Steve Morgan (talk) - SEPTA66Route.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16415274

septa trolley
By Adam E. Moreira - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2205902

route 100
By Adam E. Moreira - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1516243

b44 in dedicated lane
By Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York - SBS launched on the B44Uploaded by tm, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30342173

flexity in center lane
By booledozer - Flexity outlook 4403 heading south, 2014 08 31 (18), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35062792

route 56 trolley
By Drew Jacksich from San Jose, California - SEPTA 2312 x Aug 80TTC 4731 xxbtc 831 scrap 0ct 81xRP, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17930060

delancy street
By Brian W. Schaller - Own work, FAL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32802173