Inquirer: Goldsmith - Extra Bike Racks at City Hall, Mayor to ride

[John Boyle]

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/8174994.htm

Posted on Sat, Mar. 13, 2004
Municipal workers urged to be flexible in a SEPTA strike Remote parking sites and shuttle buses would be available for city employees if transit workers go on strike. By Vernon Clark Inquirer Staff Writer Facing a possible SEPTA strike on Monday, Managing Director Philip Goldsmith yesterday urged city employees to consider alternative transportation as he outlined plans to help reduce inconveniences. "We expect all city workers to report to work despite a transit strike," Goldsmith said. "We will be understanding if people are late, but we don't want people to use this as an excuse," he said. A contract between SEPTA and Transport Workers Union Local 234 will expire at 12:01 a.m. Monday. The union represents more than 4,700 workers who operate and maintain the Broad Street Subway, Market-Frankford Line, buses, and trolley lines of SEPTA's City Transit Division, which will stop running unless a strike is averted this weekend. On Monday, the city will allow municipal workers to be flexible with their hours when reporting to work. Goldsmith said additional parking sites and shuttle buses would be available to help city employees "get to and from work on or close to their regular schedules." Some city vehicles would be available for carpooling for municipal workers, he said. Goldsmith also urged all Philadelphians and suburban commuters to use SEPTA's Regional Rail lines, the PATCO High-Speed Line, or NJ Transit. Recalling previous SEPTA strikes - the last one in 1998 - Goldsmith said: "This kind of strike preparation is nothing new for this city... . I guarantee you we'll get through this." Goldsmith said that in meetings with city department heads, "everyone said that people handled it fine in 1998" when SEPTA went on strike. "Our people are resilient." In the event of a strike, he said, rush-hour traffic would be extremely heavy, so commuters should plan for delays by leaving home early and paying attention to news reports. Strike-related information will be available on the city's Web site (www.phila.gov). Additional police officers would be sent to major intersections in Center City to help ease traffic in congested areas. City vans and buses would shuttle city employees from three remote parking sites - at the old Philadelphia Navy Base, Memorial Hall, and Festival Pier at Penn's Landing - to the Municipal Services Building at 1401 JFK Blvd. in Center City, he said. "There will be 21 shuttle buses taking people to the Municipal Services Building," Goldsmith said. The buses would run from 7 to 9 a.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m., he said. Goldsmith said the city would permit drivers to stop in bus zones to pick up and drop off passengers as long as their vehicles did not block crosswalks or intersections. He said all parking regulations would remain in place and the rules would be strictly enforced except where otherwise indicated. "Parking regulations will be enforced, and we will review things as we go along," he said. He said about 2,650 free on-street parking spaces in and near Center City would be available. A list of parking lots is posted on the Philadelphia Parking Authority's Web site (www.philapark.org). With his own mountain bike resting on a wall next to him, Goldsmith said, "We encourage people to ride their bikes," adding that extra bicycle racks would be set up at the Municipal Services Building. "I'm sure the mayor will ride his bike, too. This just sort of reminds people that they can use their bikes." Asked about the possibility of parking-lot operators raising prices to take advantage of the strike, Goldsmith said, "We're not going to allow people to price gouge." "The most important thing the public can do is use flex time and be patient," Goldsmith said. "Let's not get into situations of road rage." SEPTA general manager Faye Moore has advised riders to "take their patience pill." Contact staff writer Vernon Clark at 215-854-5717 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]. For more information, check www.septa.org on the Web, or call 215-580-7800 for updates.

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