How will they measure attendance and how will they enforce it? Semester by semester? Year by year? Term by term? How will they stay on top of this and how will they regulate the transpasses?

Well, in all reality, it shouldn't be that hard. IF the school district keeps track of attendance electronically then there is no reason why the data couldn't be exported monthly to SEPTA and there is no reason why SEPTA couldn't just check the student's eligibility when they renew the monthly passes.

It would take a programmer with a clue a couple hours to create.

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Aren't the kids getting the TransPasses directly in school, not by going to SEPTA Customer Service? I've never seen a kid get a Student Transpass from the cash cage at any SEPTA station.

The school already knows the truancy % of all the kids, they already calculated that stat to figure out about 7,000 kids will get dropped from the program.

So not much effort is really needed. Switching your address to your cousin's house won't change your attendance score, or your other bad grades.

__________________
You can never have enough check cashing, wig shops, nail salons, hair braiding, cell phone, gold plated jewelry and sneaker stores in Philadelphia!!!

Take a stand. Today, I will do better.
http://www.hotghettomess.com/

When I noted that kids will just switch addresses, I was referring to the part where they are switching the distance from 1.5 to 2 miles away to receive a transit pass.

The one thing that pisses me off more than anything is how the kids use the passes to go to the gallery in the middle of the day.

I don't see the problem with walking. It's my understanding that kids walked to school unattended all the time in the good 'ole days. This generation's psycho, hovering parents are just too afraid of anything that lets their offspring out of sight for even the briefest periods. Besides, 2 miles really is not that far. We're not asking them to do a marathon.

And hey, walking may just help us make some headway against this childhood obesity thing. Get the little fatties out and moving!

Ah well it is even easier then as far as access. The catch would be making sure schools enforce it, which may be the difficult part.

__________________

Would it be too much to ask to require that little delinquints and kids with "behavior issues" don't get them?

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– Brigadier General Julius C. Holmes
Allied Forces Headquarters
4 March 1943

Most of those are truants, so yes--this would eliminate a portion of the population which doesn't need the taxpayers to subsidize their free joyrides around the city.

I guess you'll have some liberals come on and say "but they'll carjack you now and take your ride so they can get to The Gallery; giving them Transpasses just makes life easier for everybody!!!"


The truancy Transpass requirement is just what the doctor ordered.

I bet the volume of trash on the buses and subway cars goes down the moment they start taking these passes away.

And think of all those deadbeat parents who will have to start paying for their kids Transpasses!!!

When mommy can't go get her extensions because Jr. skipped school for 2 months and now lost his Transpass, you bet she's gonna beat his ass.

__________________
You can never have enough check cashing, wig shops, nail salons, hair braiding, cell phone, gold plated jewelry and sneaker stores in Philadelphia!!!

Take a stand. Today, I will do better.
http://www.hotghettomess.com/

I am not an expert on transit fare collection systems, but in New York the student MetroCards are time limited so they can only be used during specific hours and not on weekends. There are also some special program ones that can be used outside of those times. There also is apparently something that displays on the turnstile or bus what type of card is used, an added protection since they are a different color. How hard would it be to implement that sort of system?

SEPTA could implement when they eventually switch over to the RFID payment system that they currently have on the books.

My crystal ball sez they haven't even worked on a preliminary design or done any requirements analysis yet, though... because whatever they do has to include the Railroad part of SEPTA which generates a significant chunk of revenue.


And passengers are still fuming after the railroad ticket machines were taken away. I hate standing in those lines and repeating 3 times to the clerk what Zone pass I want to buy.

Them: "What station?"

Me: I want a Zone 2.

Them: "What station??"

Me: You don't need to know what station, I want a Zone 2 Off Peak, honey.

Them: **SIGH** Here.

__________________
You can never have enough check cashing, wig shops, nail salons, hair braiding, cell phone, gold plated jewelry and sneaker stores in Philadelphia!!!

Take a stand. Today, I will do better.
http://www.hotghettomess.com/