PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The prospect of building a Roosevelt Boulevard subway is much less likely, now that SEPTA says there is no money for it. But some advocates aren’t giving up hope that the long-discussed project can someday become reality.
The transit agency listened last year as advocates including state Rep. Jared Solomon, D-Philadelphia, promoted the idea.
But SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards said with the limited funding the transit agency has now, there’s “no way forward” for a Roosevelt Boulevard Subway.
She told the Philadelphia Business Journal “the math just doesn’t work.”
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The idea has been talked about for decades. Jay Arzu, a doctoral student studying civic and regional planning at Penn, has promoted the concept.
He doesn’t think Richards’ comments mean the idea is dead.
“I personally don’t think it’s a nail in the coffin. I see this as a new beginning,” said Arzu.
Arzu’s BlvdSubway Twitter account revealed a proposed map. It would include stops at Wyoming, Rising Sun, Adams, Oxford Circle, Bustleton, and Cottman with continued service to Neshaminy.
The project would carry about a $3 billion price tag.
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Arzu sees Richards’ statement as a chance to have a new conversation about how SEPTA is funded, in the hopes that someday money for a boulevard subway could be found.
“A competitive region puts money into transportation, makes capital investments,” said Arzu. “While we can’t afford it today, the work’s just getting started.”
Arzu said the region needs to look at new ways to compete for federal money.
“I think that in order to construct the Roosevelt Boulevard subway, we’re going to have to be realistic about our finances,” he said.
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“But also, we’re going to have to be innovative about how we look for federal grants and discretionary grants.”
Arzu suggested a regional referendum on transportation funding, to help SEPTA have more money for capital projects.
He said while he doesn’t want to pit the city against the suburbs, he believes a boulevard subway would serve many more riders than the King of Prussia rail line currently in the works. The line would connect to the Norristown High Speed Line.
The KOP rail line website says a 20-year funding plan could include money from the Federal Transit Administration and possible funds from state, regional, and local governments and private sources.