The Smart Card Alliance awarded PATCO the "2008 Outstanding Smart Card Achievement Runner Up Award" for PATCO's implementation of the FREEDOM Card.  PATCO was second to the U.S. General Services Administration for issuing and personalizing Personal Identity Verification Cards for the federal government.  MBTA in Boston also received an honorable mention for its Charlie Card program.

The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved a proposal to consider using a public-private partnership to boost the Acela Express's speed on the Northeast Corridor.  They plan to cut the time between New York and Washington DC from 2 hours and 45 minutes down to less than two hours.  The cost? They would need at least 14 billion dollars to make it work.

Some of the concerns include the probability that the private sector would want to invest so much money into Amtrak.  However, the Northeast Corridor is the only Amtrak line that's actually making a profit, so it may not be a bad idea.

You can read more about this proposal in this article in the Delaware Online news journal: http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008805290340

The NABI demo, 5201, is now in Southern New Jersey.  However, it's located at Washington Twp garage, rather than Newton Ave.  You can find it running on routes 400, 403 and 406 during rush hours. 

[photographer: Mark De Loatch]

On Monday, June 16, Millbourne station will finally reopen to the public.  This station was closed since April of 2007.  The new station will be ADA accessible with elevators and a modern platform canopy, which the old station didn't have one.  This, of course, is in addition to the new concrete platforms.  You may want to check it out; from what I saw during construction, this station will look a little different than the other Market Street Elevated Station.

On the flip side, 63rd Street, the last of the old Market Street stations, closed on Friday, June 13, for reconstruction.  This station will be closed as the last part of the Market Street Elevated structure is replaced....finally!

The 40 foot Neoplan era has come to an end.  Now that school is out, the Neos are out of service as well.  Yesterday, I found only either Neoplan buses left on Frankford's property.  These Neos are: 3433, 3416, 3431, 3427, 3482, 3419, 3396, and 3428.  These buses were parked along the side of the wall.

RIP Neoplan friends...you surely will be missed.

If you don't already know, the R3 used to operate all the way to West Chester back in the day.  This electrified service, along with other diesel services, was a part of the Regional Rail line cuts in the 1980's.  Now, residents want it to return.  You can view and sign the petition by visiting the following website: http://www.petitiononline.com/railtowc/petition.html