Damn BW, you've got your lawyers hat on.

I'm not lover of Robert Moses - just watched that amazing Rick Burns docuentary segment on Moses and the utlitmate opposition to him (the rise of Jane Jacobs). Everyone who cares about development ought to watch it.

My point is - and it was elucidated in an earlier post on this string - that Septa could play a role in doing transit oriented economic development - a developer of the last resort, perhaps. That could serve as a catalyst for private development . . . and provide profit to the Septa system.

Go back and look at the Paul Steinke article that I cited.
http://citypaper.net/articles/2004-0...ityspace.shtml

He urged the same sort of thing. And Steinke is no stranger to transit issues since he has served on the Citizen's Advisory Panel for Septa, along with servings as head of UCD and now Reading Terminal Market.

And, I just found out, he is responsible for bringing the model trains back to the Reading Terminal headhouse.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

Chris, I also caught the end of that documentary last night. Up at all hours with strep and PBS is where I go :-) Do you have any idea where I can get the rest of the "New York" series?

On the el - it's certainly ugly, and a traffic obstruction (at least near Millbourne-60th), but the cost of subways is prohibitive in most cases. It would be wonderful, in a SimCity kind of way, to snap my fingers and put it all underground, but I don't think it's worth the expense or the inconvenience.

One question: the el goes noticeably slower in the above-ground sections. Is there a reason for this? All I can think of is the noise disturbance to the neighbors.

That'll destroy SEPTA since school busses come under a different funding and will thus serve as a competitor to SETPA during one of tis most profitable time periods (the morning rush). Also, I believe school busses are actually more expensive than public busses due to all the safety precautions built in. That being the case, why "waste" a seat on an exepnsive bus which should be going for kids (who are less likely to be protected since they don't sit still, don't know how to evacuate, etc.). Lastly, opening up the school busses to outsiders would pose a security risk (though many of the kids are scarier than the SEPTA riders).

Thunda - it's perhaps my favorite (and one of the most beautiful)documentary - Ric Burns outdoes his brother in almost everyway - high praise since I hold Ken Burns in great esteem. And I'm not saying any of this stuff just because ex-girlfriend was coordinating producer on the project.

I hope they run the final segment (a special extra segment) about the attack on WTC. It's perhaps the best thing I've seen done on this subject. I would guess that it will run Sunday evening and then again during the week (late).

But, to your question. Should be for sale on the PBS web site - and or through Steeplechase Films.

Home Video
Five two-hour cassettes offered by PBS Home Video

There's also a DVD set packaged with the companion book.

DVD alone is $97.99
VHS alone is $69

Segment 8 - is $24.95.

Book alone is $39.95

http://www.shoppbs.org/family/index....lftnav_sbs_txt

I would also suspect that it may be available on loan from the Free Library. That would be the cheapest way.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

That crowd would seem to see new buildings as progress only as a follow on to wanton destruction of historic buildings, whose continued existance they see as miring Philadelphia in its dull, uninteresting past. Their motto: No real history here, move along now. :twisted:

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Cheers,
Jayfar
--
“I am indeed well aware of the history of Conventional (sic) Hall, both globally and locally, and can assure you that we are carefully exploring avenues for its future.” -- Penn President Amy Gutmann 5 days before demolition began.

Now you've done it, you wanton building hugger. NIMBY this, NIMBY that.

They'll all be coming after you - rather than me.

But, OTH, my posting of the tax article ought to get some votes for biggest ahole on the block.

Plus, I don't like the Eagles.

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

Wait till next year. :twisted:

__________________
Cheers,
Jayfar
--
“I am indeed well aware of the history of Conventional (sic) Hall, both globally and locally, and can assure you that we are carefully exploring avenues for its future.” -- Penn President Amy Gutmann 5 days before demolition began.

Not to mention the tons of bird poop that you would have to clean up while being parked underneath the el. BUILD THE SUBWAY, PLEASE!!! :rolling_:

I'll make 2 guesses

First, that it's an optical illusion - below ground, you see the walls of the station whizzing past, while above ground you don't have a good frame of reference - basically the childhood "the moon is following us" effect where you dont' notice speed so much when your references are distant objects.

Second, at least during some seasons, at morning and evening rush, it may simply be wet rails- condensation on the tracks due to the temperature difference. The subway is buried and built on ground/rock - so it doesn't warm up or cool down too fast, same with the railroads which ar built on the ground. But just like bridges freeze before the road, an elevated railroad is basically all bridge, it heats up and cools down faster than normal rails, and that should lead to dew and condensation on the rails.

Hal

The el hasn't killed business but the El Reconstruction has. Everything is drastically behind schedule and whole blocks are shut down for long periods of time. try walking around under the el in w. philly. there's not a whole lot going on.