I thought it ran more frequently. I didn't examine the schedule carefully, http://www.ridepatco.org/schedules.asp, but it looks like it runs every 20-40 minutes from 11 PM until 4 AM. At least it runs later, unlike some of the western subs trains.

Anyhow, the increases still suck, especially since they are necessary because DRPA blew money on pet projects that should have been used for bridge maintenance and improvement.

Note that one of the words making up DRPA is PORT. That is their job - to develop the port. Operating bridges and a rail line is merely how they raise revenue, and the rail line doesn't even pay for itself. Thus it is the JOB of the DRPA to raise money from people using its bridges to pay to develop the Ports of Philadelphia and Camden. The board took a broad definition of the term 'port development'. If you don't like it, build your own port authority or at least stop using the DRPA. Like its northerly counterpart, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, it is a monopoly which uses its revenues for pet projects of politicians. I have no problem with that. Last I checked, it is still free to cross the bridge on foot and on your bicycle. You have options.

The way I look at it, it is the DRPA which has it right and I-95 and the Schuylkill Expressway which are wrong. People who use highways should pay to use them, and the money raised should be spent on projects which benefit everyone.

Well, that is where you are going to get a lot of disagreement. People DON'T think it should be used for political pet projects.

People were ok with the idea o using bridge tolls and such for the port. The thing is, Chester is not the port. Spring Garden is not the port. Stadiums are not the port.

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[quote=billy ross;816429] Note that one of the words making up DRPA is PORT. That is their job - to develop the port. [/quote[
so what do ethnic museums, luxury apartments, and soccer have to do with ports?
how much are they kicking in for dredging and port modernization vs. luxury apartments that were used for dougherty?
so, how will I get Ed Rendell to ram projects throgh for m port authority?
unlike it;s neighbors to the north, DRPA uses far more debt.

Everyone who lives in chester or dockside. I think your argument is offbase. we'd all have benefitted more if DRPA had concentrated on fixing the bridge or building a second PATCO lije..or at least running it more often.

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"You down wit OPM?"
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Another reason to love my bicycle.

The Port Authority will not misspend its money until the next time it does.

I was thinking about this the other day (yes I need more hobbies) and part of the problem is that the people in charge really aren't accountable to the electorate, even though it is in essence a body with governmental authority.

I mean, technically people could go after Perzel, Diccio and Rendell (and Doc when he was running for election) during campaigns, but no one does.

Does anyone think that a partial solution to the problem would be making it where the respective state legislatures have to approve the yearly budget the board creates?

Granted it is not like Harrisburg is the best with that sort of thing either and the electorate does a poor job of holding them accountable (especially in Philadelphia), but it would at least give us the option. Would the DRPA work differently if people that were up for election every two years (state house) had to approve toll increases?

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