The digital displays will finally let riders know when the next train is coming.
Philadelphia transit riders will soon see some ‘new’ technology at SEPTA stations: countdown clocks showing when the next train is arriving. Thomas Fitzgerald, writing in the Philadelphia Inquirer, explains that prior plans to install digital arrival signs were put on hold in 2020 after a malware attack.
“After a brief trial period at 13th Street to make sure the software is communicating accurate information from the signal system that tracks the location of the trains, SEPTA will wire up the other stations on the El.” The clocks will eventually be installed at Regional Rail stations as well.
According to Fitzgerald, “SEPTA has a $35 million contract with Alstom, a multinational manufacturer based in France that builds trains, railroad signaling systems, and digital mobility software, to modernize its communications with riders.”
FULL STORY: Countdown clocks are coming to SEPTA subways this spring
Why Philly’s SEPTA Faces a ‘Death Spiral’
The state has not offered a sustainable source of funding to meet the transit agency’s $240 million budget gap.
SEPTA Faces Service Cuts
Philadelphia wants its city workers back in the office, but getting there may be a challenge.
Philly Free Transit Pilot Clocks 1.8 Million Rides
A two-year pilot program from SEPTA offers free fares to 25,000 low-income riders.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research