Thanks to an anonymous contributor, here is the current train study proposal.
(I regret that the proposal, which had been posted earlier, is now gone. Sorry, not my doing. The link is now gone.)
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Getting on track
Some details that I think need to be addressed regarding the potential Phoenixville–Great Valley train line:
Is the plan to run just between Phoenixville and Great Valley, or to have a connection to the R5 line?
Where will the stations in Phoenixville, Great Valley, and elsewhere be located?
What is the projected service area at each end or station (i.e., from what distance around each station are riders expected to originate or end their trips)?
How are riders at each station expected to travel between the station and their ultimate starting or ending points?
Who (i.e., what entity) will operate the train?
Is the line between Phoenixville and Great Valley single, double, or multiple track? How does that affect operations and schedules?
Is the line between Phoenixville and Great Valley electrified or not?
What sort of rolling stock (cars, locomotives) will be needed, how many of each?
Will the rolling stock be compatible or interchangeable with other commuter lines (such as SEPTA Regional Rail)?
What is the expected ridership, in terms of distinct persons and trips per workday, nonworkday?
What is the projected operating schedule?
What is the projected staffing (positions and numbers of persons in each) to run the train?
Will the existing track need to be rehabilitated? At what cost?
What physical facilities will be needed: stations, parking lots, turnarounds, maintenance yards or sheds, offices, etc.? At what cost?
What are the projected operating costs? To what extent will they be covered by fares?
What are the projected capital costs? What is the source of capital funds? To what extent will the capital costs be covered by fares?
Is the plan to run just between Phoenixville and Great Valley, or to have a connection to the R5 line?
Where will the stations in Phoenixville, Great Valley, and elsewhere be located?
What is the projected service area at each end or station (i.e., from what distance around each station are riders expected to originate or end their trips)?
How are riders at each station expected to travel between the station and their ultimate starting or ending points?
Who (i.e., what entity) will operate the train?
Is the line between Phoenixville and Great Valley single, double, or multiple track? How does that affect operations and schedules?
Is the line between Phoenixville and Great Valley electrified or not?
What sort of rolling stock (cars, locomotives) will be needed, how many of each?
Will the rolling stock be compatible or interchangeable with other commuter lines (such as SEPTA Regional Rail)?
What is the expected ridership, in terms of distinct persons and trips per workday, nonworkday?
What is the projected operating schedule?
What is the projected staffing (positions and numbers of persons in each) to run the train?
Will the existing track need to be rehabilitated? At what cost?
What physical facilities will be needed: stations, parking lots, turnarounds, maintenance yards or sheds, offices, etc.? At what cost?
What are the projected operating costs? To what extent will they be covered by fares?
What are the projected capital costs? What is the source of capital funds? To what extent will the capital costs be covered by fares?
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Budget Mysteries
According to The Phoenix, the scaling up of a rental inspector position from three-quarter time to full time is among the costs that would boost the announced tax increase for 2008.
Why the rental inspector’s costs should have any effect on taxes is a mystery that Council and the Manager should have to explain. Rental inspections are a regulatory program whose costs should be borne by fees imposed on the applicable properties.
In fact, the projected rental license revenue for 2007 is $167,500 and the budgeted amount for 2008 is $167,000, a mere $500 less. Could it be that $167,000 isn’t enough to cover the costs of one full-time inspector? What is the inspector being paid? Go to the first comment for an answer.
Council Member Wagner is right, Council is not micromanaging the budget. In order to micromanage you must first manage.
Why the rental inspector’s costs should have any effect on taxes is a mystery that Council and the Manager should have to explain. Rental inspections are a regulatory program whose costs should be borne by fees imposed on the applicable properties.
In fact, the projected rental license revenue for 2007 is $167,500 and the budgeted amount for 2008 is $167,000, a mere $500 less. Could it be that $167,000 isn’t enough to cover the costs of one full-time inspector? What is the inspector being paid? Go to the first comment for an answer.
Council Member Wagner is right, Council is not micromanaging the budget. In order to micromanage you must first manage.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Borough's proposed 2008 budget
The proposed 2008 “basic” borough budget calls for a real estate tax increase of 8%, no increase in water or sewer rates, and a slight decrease in the trash fee.
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But, the “basic” budget does not include
Budget “B”–“staff recommended budget additions” totaling $3,420,640
Budget “S”–“sponsored items for consideration” totaling $120,500
Budget “C”–“other items for consideration” totaling $1,535,010
In other words, there are still over $5 million in possible outlays awaiting decision.
For some other budget thoughts that I’ve passed on to Council, {sorry, that link is gone now).
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*
*
But, the “basic” budget does not include
Budget “B”–“staff recommended budget additions” totaling $3,420,640
Budget “S”–“sponsored items for consideration” totaling $120,500
Budget “C”–“other items for consideration” totaling $1,535,010
In other words, there are still over $5 million in possible outlays awaiting decision.
For some other budget thoughts that I’ve passed on to Council, {sorry, that link is gone now).
The Phoenix "Skips" the News
Phoenixville's 2008 proposed budget was presented to Council Tuesday night, November 13th.
To read our local paper, The Phoenix, you'd never know that.
Maybe it's because they didn't bother to send a reporter to cover the meeting.
To read our local paper, The Phoenix, you'd never know that.
Maybe it's because they didn't bother to send a reporter to cover the meeting.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Leaks from the secret budget
Rumors abound that the Borough is exploring the imposition of a business privilege tax to staunch the expected flow of red ink in the 2008 budget.
Maybe we should try to recall that the Borough once had such a tax.
Maybe Messrs. Messina, Kirkner, and DiGirolomo, our triumvirate of financial whizzers, should try to recall that the Borough's business privilege tax was REPEALED while they were all on Council.
If they try real hard, they might even discover why they repealed it.
Maybe we should try to recall that the Borough once had such a tax.
Maybe Messrs. Messina, Kirkner, and DiGirolomo, our triumvirate of financial whizzers, should try to recall that the Borough's business privilege tax was REPEALED while they were all on Council.
If they try real hard, they might even discover why they repealed it.
Barry Cassidy--Beyond All Bounds
In his 'Guest Column' in the November 1st Phoenix, Barry Cassidy writes:
"We will be seeking to 'Connect Underutilized Networks of
Transportation' to make sure Norristown is not our window on the world and we connect better with Chester County."
You can't believe that the slogan he chose is an accident.
What is the matter with The Phoenix for publishing this--and as a 'Guest Column' no less?
What is the matter with the Main Street CDC Board for continuing to employ Cassidy?
What is the matter with the Borough Council for empowering this vulgar miscreant to represent our Borough?
"We will be seeking to 'Connect Underutilized Networks of
Transportation' to make sure Norristown is not our window on the world and we connect better with Chester County."
You can't believe that the slogan he chose is an accident.
What is the matter with The Phoenix for publishing this--and as a 'Guest Column' no less?
What is the matter with the Main Street CDC Board for continuing to employ Cassidy?
What is the matter with the Borough Council for empowering this vulgar miscreant to represent our Borough?
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