Why these SEPTA riders want more train service in Delaware

David Curtis, the Wilmington resident and University of Pennsylvania grad student behind the successful SEPTA petition to expand service in the First State, recently culled through the 1,759 responses on Change.org, all of which advocated for more train service to and from Wilmington.
The petition worked and SEPTA added more trips to Delaware in early December.
Curtis plucked out 25 of the most compelling comments and sent them to us. Here they are, in no particular order:

• Kelly O’Donnell, Whiteford, Md.

I grew up in DE and went to school in Wilmington, and lack of adequate public transportation is a major reason why I chose not pursue a career in DE.

• Michael Neborak, Wilmington, Del.

I don’t arrive home until 2 and a half hours after my shift ends.

• Simon Lowe, Wilmington, Del.

I’m a SEPTA commuter and the weekend hours have left me stranded or have drained my wallet having to take Amtrak just to get home.

• Walter Kenyon Sr., Wilmington, Del.

I am getting too old to drive long distance and would like better train service.

• Adrienne Morgan, Wilmington, Del.

My husband works 2nd shift (3 p.m. to 12 a.m.) in Philly & would love to catch the train instead of driving, especially in bad weather.

• Hal Real, Wilmington, Del.

World Cafe Live, among others, has taken huge risks and made a major investment to be a catalyst for the revitalization of lower Market Street and downtown Wilmington. But, our fans who live in Philly are challenged to get here by train due to the infrequent schedule and CANNOT get back to Philly by train because the last train is 10:48 pm on weekdays when concerts are just winding down and 8:40 p.m. on weekends when shows have not even started! One of the best things downtown Wilmington has going for it is its train accessibility, but what’s the point of a great station in a great location if there are no trains?

• Alexis Ciotti, Wilmington, Del.

Hourly trains between Wilmington and my business office in Center City, Philadelphia, will allow me the opportunity to pursue and secure continued employment.

• Bryant Gilliam, Philadelphia, Pa.

I want to stay in Wilmington after 8, but trains come few and far between.

• Ryan Dietrich, Philadelphia, Pa.

I could have taken a fairly lucrative job in Wilmington. But because of the lack of service, I had to decline it.

• Thomas Robinson, Chester, Pa.

Trains should run until … businesses and restaurants close. I’ve been stranded by missing the last train.

• Greg Busanus, Wilmington, Del.

I live in Delaware. Most of my family and friends are in Pennsylvania. It would make going for weekend visits so much easier if I could just take the train into Philly to see them.

• Gretchen Green, Glenolden, Pa.

I live in the Philly suburbs and work in Wilmington. My working hours are scheduled around the train and DART bus schedules, and I would like to be more flexible.

• James Taylor, Wilmington, Del.

I’m a small business owner almost fresh out of college and a large amount of my work is done in and with clients out of Philadelphia. Expanding the availability of railway service between here and Philadelphia would help me to contain overhead by lowering my transportation costs. Doing so would also increase productivity as I would be free to handle certain business tasks as I wouldn’t be preoccupied with driving.

• Michael Noda, Philadelphia, Pa.

Because Wilmington should be an impulse trip for me, not a carefully choreographed and managed adventure.

• Jillian Waldman, Philadelphia, Pa.

The two-hour gaps in service mean I’m stuck at work after everyone else leaves, and have basically no flexibility … From Marcus Hook to Claymont … it’s an hour to walk — I’ve done it. Hourly service would improve life for everyone … including myself and many of my students.

• Liz Mock, West Chester, Pa.

I ended up moving out of the city and one of the main reasons was because of the inconvenience of train schedules.

• Joan Marquart, Wilmington, Del.

Additional routes makes it far easier to get to/from work as well as solicit friends and colleagues to come visit us in Wilmington and take advantage of our local offerings.

• Billy Fasano, Laurel, Del.

Accessibility is a basic requirement of a robust economy and a dynamic workforce!

• Mike Reppy, Wilmington, Del.

I ride SEPTA every day and more trains to Wilmington would help for the days with a varied schedule.

• J. Harry Feldman, Wilmington, Del.

I need a reliable, uncomplicated way of getting to and from Philly for meetings and events.

• Andrew Goreski, Bellefonte, Del.

We need to promote the city [Wilmington]. It has a tremendous potential and we need people to come to see it.

• Jean Hall, Chalfont, Pa.

I have a 2.5 hour commute each way and every time the train is late or I miss a train, I miss work. I use the trains all the time and have a very limited window to … get home to the Bucks County suburbs. More trains would help me spend more time with my family and get more sleep. I am working in Wilmington and don’t have any free time (except weekends) to catch up on work and see my family. My work day is compressed and the current schedule extends my day and my trip to 3 to 4 hours each way when I miss a train or a connection. HELP!

• Peter Tupitza, Wilmington, Del.

I work in both cities. Theater communities, many businesses need a broad market to survive. Limited public transit works against this goal.

• Joshua Krotec, Wilmington, Del.

The lack of weekend trains … is dangerous as it requires people to drive between Delaware and Philadelphia, potentially to/from events where alcohol is present.

• Mary Lou Hess, Wilmington, Del.

I commute daily to Philadelphia for work and go to cultural events there as well. The limited SEPTA service … negatively impacts my quality of life.