You call the elimination of SEPTA transfers "a necessary step" (editorial, Sunday). Actually it's unnecessary, and has nothing to do with solving SEPTA's financial crisis.
In March, SEPTA proposed two sets of tariffs that raised the same amount of money - one with this radical new fare restructuring and one keeping the present fare structure, including transfers.
Our analysis of the new SEPTA budget finds no cost savings or other justification for eliminating transfers. SEPTA has failed to address arguments that this could actually raise costs by discouraging passengers from transferring from buses to more efficient rail routes.
We agree that paper transfers are an old technology, but thousands of passengers, such as students and people with part-time jobs, will be punished by the new policy. Eliminating transfers before SEPTA installs new fare technology will confuse passengers and depress ridership.
Now that management has got its wish in the form of a board vote abolishing transfers and punishing riders who buy tickets on board the train, SEPTA spokesmen are starting to bad-mouth the new technology. They talk about how other systems have had problems with it. Is this intended to justify further stalling?
State and local elected officials should tell the SEPTA board and management that transfers must stay until new technology is actually here and working.
Anthony P. DeSantis
President
Delaware Valley Association
of Rail Passengers
Philadelphia