Crains NY
30 Oct 2009

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20091030/FREE/910309989/0/newsletter

Philly could be better city if their leaders get their shit together, starting with a better mass transit system.

Live in Philly, work in NYC, eh, is that viable? That must be 4+ hours commuting everyday. May as well just move out into Long Island or NJ.

Its true, Philly's only an hour or so drive from the outermost part of Staten Island & its a lot bigger.

Philadelphia is not the 6th borough of NYC...Jersey City is. Philadelphia is close though. Yes, people do commute to Manhattan because it is an hour or so from city to city by the Acela and less than 1.5 hrs by the express Amtrak Metroliner. New Yorkers have suddenly discovered Philadelphia even though it's been a good neighbor for over 350 years.

Philadelphia has come a long way since the 1980's and the transit system is not that bad. In fact it is very big and well used, except for Center City since it is so pleasantly walkable and compact. How many US cities even have a subway, El, street trolley and commuter rail? There are only a handful.
The only cities in the US that compare to Northeastern cities rails are in Chicago and San Francisco.

What's 'El'?

Philadelphia is not the "6th borough". That is just what New Yorkers say about Philadelphia as a mocking way to give Philly any legitimacy as a real city. I wonder if it's more than a coincidence that this article came out while the Phillies were playing the Yankees in the World Series.

What is a street trolley?

Cyclo,

This is a Philadelphia street trolley.
http://home.comcast.net/~trolleydriver/2328Girard42.jpg

^^ looks like Toronto

Live in Philly, work in NYC, eh, is that viable? That must be 4+ hours commuting everyday. May as well just move out into Long Island or NJ.

Its not that for. I've done it in about 1-2hrs...
Philadelphia is like miles away from NYC tho, JC is much closer...

Its not that for. I've done it in about 1-2hrs...
Philadelphia is like miles away from NYC tho, JC is much closer...

The outer city limits of NY (i.e., Staten Isl.) and Philadelphia (i.e., North Philly) are 90 km apart.

What's 'El'?

Elevated Railway.

http://k53.pbase.com/u44/phillytrax/upload/28727694.el_skyline1.jpg

BTW, I disagree with the notion of this article. Let's put this in relative numbers, only a very small percentage of people commute from New York to Philly every day. It is it's own city, metro area, and economic center. Just because some New Yorkers "discovered" how out of whack their cost of living is compared to certain nearby areas like Philly and move there isn't enough to make anywhere else a "sixth borough".

Its not that for. I've done it in about 1-2hrs...
Philadelphia is like miles away from NYC tho, JC is much closer...

I'm not too familiar with the area (I'm not American), but is there a train that goes from Philly into say, Manhattan? Say you worked in Manhattan, I don't think driving everyday would be very viable because driving into Manhattan would be an absolute nightmare? So if you catch a train from Philly into Manhattan, that would mean first driving/cycling/walking/whatever to the train station in Philly and then taking the train into Manhattan - sounds like quite a trip and not something many people would put up with day-in-day-out, everyday.

I'm not too familiar with the area (I'm not American), but is there a train that goes from Philly into say, Manhattan? Say you worked in Manhattan, I don't think driving everyday would be very viable because driving into Manhattan would be an absolute nightmare? So if you catch a train from Philly into Manhattan, that would mean first driving/cycling/walking/whatever to the train station in Philly and then taking the train into Manhattan - sounds like quite a trip and not something many people would put up with day-in-day-out, everyday.

Yes. It leaves Penn Station in NY and goes to the main station in the center of Philly and takes either 1 hr. 6 mins or 1 hr 30 mins depending if you take the fast train (Acela) or the regular one.

Philadelphia is not the 6th borough of NYC...Jersey City is. Philadelphia is close though. Yes, people do commute to Manhattan because it is an hour or so from city to city by the Acela and less than 1.5 hrs by the express Amtrak Metroliner. New Yorkers have suddenly discovered Philadelphia even though it's been a good neighbor for over 350 years.

Philadelphia has come a long way since the 1980's and the transit system is not that bad. In fact it is very big and well used, except for Center City since it is so pleasantly walkable and compact. How many US cities even have a subway, El, street trolley and commuter rail? There are only a handful.
The only cities in the US that compare to Northeastern cities rails are in Chicago and San Francisco.

What about DC?

Cyclo,

This is a Philadelphia street trolley.
http://home.comcast.net/~trolleydriver/2328Girard42.jpg

How does a street trolley differ from a Tram?
Or are they the same and it is the US name for one?

What about DC?

Washington is the southernmost Northeastern city.

What about DC?

DC's rail system is not very good. It covers only a very small portion of the suburbs.

How does a street trolley differ from a Tram?
Or are they the same and it is the US name for one?

It's the same thing, just a different name.

Yes the El is an elevated platform.
http://phillyskyline.com/misc/wallpaper_090921a.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d1/3/8/8/8388.1233961397.jpg
http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/800px-SEPTA_Route_100.jpg
I guess the real term in Philadelphia is surface trolley. They also go underground and become subways like the El if that makes any sense.
From Wikipedia.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/SEPTA_Route_34_trolley_9107.jpg
http://www.studio34yoga.com/art/trolley/DSCF0011.JPG
and PATCO
http://images.nycsubway.org/logo/title-patco.jpg
http://kcbrownphotojournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/ben-franklin-950x632.jpg

eh I am not a real big fan of Philly. However, I have to say the center city skyline and river are pretty cool.

Oh and Philly will never be New York's sixth borough. If anything I would predict that in a long time Newark will reclaim some of it's former glory and capitalize off its ideal location (right across from NYC, on a bay with a major port, huge airport hub)

Not a fan of Philly? Do you mean the team or the city? There is much more than the skyline and river to appreciate.

Newark has a lot going for it. That part of New Jersey is very dense and well connected through it's commuter and never ending rail retail strips. Also the towns outside of Newark are very wealthy. I agree that the city is in a perfect poise for bouncing back.

Not a fan of Philly? Do you mean the team or the city? There is much more than the skyline and river to appreciate.

I'm talking about the city but I would be more than willing to give it another chance. I guess I'm not being fair but to me much of the city is ghetto or falling apart especially in the north and west sides. And southwest and northeast philly isn't looking that great either...to me that represents the vast majority of the city except for center city and a few other neighborhoods. However, I admit I'm not that familar with Philly so if I'm wrong tell me.

Every major city has slums. Philadelphia has them, lots of them. There is still much of the city that is intact well beyond the gentrification of Center City.
The Southwest and Central North Philadelphia are probably the most notorious. Manayunk, East Falls, Roxborough, Fairmount, Fishtown, Chestnut Hill, University City, Powelton Village, Girard Estates, Spruce Hill and Northern Liberties are some of the sections that are quite nice and they are not Center City. There is enough good in the city to keep one interested for a decade or more. I think it is fascinating that there are still areas of the city waiting to be fixed up and explored by urban pioneers. Kensington is like Williamsburg, Brooklyn in the early 90s. I like that. An evolving city with promise and layers of history appeals to me most.

Its not a "6th burough"... but I wouldn't be surprised if they both merged as metros in the not too distant future.