Editorial: One-way ticket to ride

SEPTA did a reasonably good job of staring down Mother Nature this week. But with more storms predicted, riders deserve a review of the transit authority's new one-way guarantee: We'll get you there, but you're on your own getting back.

SEPTA's aim is to avoid stranding both passengers and vehicles in the midst of a big storm. The policy was implemented Saturday, and SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said it worked well: No passengers were stranded, and only a fraction of the usual number of buses had to be towed.

During Wednesday's brutal nor'easter, the policy was used, for bus routes only - and only after riders were given 2½ hours notice before the 5 p.m. phased shutdown of routes. Remarkably, the regional-rail network ran into the evening. The agency also kept the Broad Street Subway and Market-Frankford El running late.

But for riders accustomed to SEPTA's braving even the worst storms, the policy was bad news.

Riders rely on SEPTA especially during extreme weather conditions. The region's sprawling rail network, in particular, is nothing short of a transit lifeline. So the new policy is jarring, given that the rail lines, trolleys, and buses have plowed through snow, sleet, and rain for decades. Now riders must cope with uncertainty.

That's not to say SEPTA must run regardless of conditions. Recent storms made travel extremely dangerous, and the agency's aging rail cars have a nasty habit of drawing snow into the vents that cool their motors, burning them out at a cost of $8,000 per unit. But this winter is not the norm.

Going forward, riders would benefit from a clearer picture of what weather conditions would call for the shutdown of the rails.

Getting the word out on what lines are running is key, as well. While the agency is being hailed for its up-to-the-minute service reports online, not everybody carries a smart phone, so the agency's plan for text-message alerts should be put into action as soon as possible. During yesterday morning's rush hour, even customers with the latest gadgets were getting contradictory information on which lines were running.

It might be better to designate key rail lines as "lifeline" routes that would be shut down only under the worst circumstances, enabling commuters to arrange to be picked up along those routes. SEPTA may have other ideas, but one thing is already clear: A one-way ride is almost useless.