PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — SEPTA said an early look at Sunday's bus route changes shows that most are running on time. Bus drivers, however, are catching heat from riders unaware of the cancelled and altered routes.
The bus routes designed to run more frequently have done so, according to SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch. “The on-time performance is right within the range that's acceptable for the most part,” he said.
While the Route 60 bus is taking longer than expected to get to the Wissahickon Transit Center, Busch said the 79, which was extended to University City, has been running faster than planned.
Transport Workers Union Local 234 president Will Vera, though, said riders have been taking out their frustrations over the changes on his members.
“It's dealing with the new routes and passengers not knowing that there's new routes,” he explained. “Sometimes there [are] language barriers. And just because you put up a sign, that does not mean that they can read what's going to happen.”
According to Busch, the transit agency has extra supervisory personnel along the routes to explain the changes.
“By having those extra resources out in the field, we're trying to make sure there [are] other folks out there to help with that,” he said.
Vera also said he wants SEPTA to add bulletproof enclosures for bus drivers. “We do walk on tightropes to not be in danger, not be spat at, not be cursed at. But these things do happen.”
However, Busch said the shields add weight — and that SEPTA is still evaluating a pilot program of eight buses that currently have those protective shields.
SEPTA has asked for feedback from riders on social media or its customer service line, according to Busch, in order to improve the next phase of bus route changes planned for February.
