SEPTA strike continues to shut down city transit

The University has made plans to keep the strike from affecting students. When SEPTA workers walked off the job Monday afternoon, it was business as usual in University City, where transportation officials had prepared for the worst. Alternate travel plans, which had been posted on the University's World Wide Web site for weeks, finally went into affect as students, staff and faculty from both Penn and Drexel, as well as health system employees were left without transportation. While shuttle buses have taken over SEPTA's role as the primary mode of transport, carpools and vanpools are also picking up some of the slack, according to Transportation Services Manager Ron Ward, who is coordinating the University's role in the effort to cope with the strike. Penn and Drexel have teamed up to run shuttles every half hour, transporting faculty, students and staff to and from campus between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and again from 4:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The shuttles -- accessible to anyone holding a valid ID from Penn, Drexel, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia or the Seashore House -- operate between Houston Hall and 30th Street Station, 16th and Locust streets and the 69th Street Terminal. "There haven't been any major glitches in the service so far," Ward said. "We will continue making minor adjustments, as needed, to compensate for more people at certain times and less at others." Ward, however, did note an exception to the ID requirement, adding that the Sheraton University City and a few other entities on campus have subcontracted with the University in order to secure transportation for employees during the strike. The University sponsored RIDESHARE service has also met with success according to Ward, who estimated that the voice-mail line -- 573-4525 -- has received between 12 and 15 messages from Penn employees who are able to provide rides. The number of calls made to the other line by those seeking a ride -- 573-4445 -- has not yet been tabulated. Ward's emphasis on the importance of cooperation between Drexel and Penn during the strike was echoed by Drexel Associate Vice President for Facility Management Frank Pizzulo, who is coordinating the transportation effort from Drexel's end. "The fact that we can work together and pool our resources is beneficial for both institutions," Pizzulo said. "We have our supervisory staff monitoring the situation, just like Ron [Ward]'s and if any modifications need to me made, we will make the necessary changes." Although Health System employees are entitled to utilize the Universities'' shuttles, they have also contracted with DLC management for five additional shuttles of their own, according to Rebecca Harmon, director of media relations for the health system. Harmon explained that the additional shuttles were deemed necessary because their routes focus on the West Philadelphia area, where most hospital employees live. The health system shuttles are also timed approximately in relation to the beginning and ending of shifts, "with a lot of variation," Harmon said. "We plan to contract with DLC as long as possible," she said. "We absolutely have to get our employees to work because patient care is a priority." University employees seem to be taking what could be a transportation nightmare in stride, despite the obvious disruptions. Margaret Mary Thomas, an administrative assistant in the College office and regular SEPTA patron, said she has been utilizing a carpool in the mornings and enlisting her husband's services as a chauffeur in the evenings. "You do what you have to do," Thomas said. "Life goes on, but it is an inconvenience."