Septa gets new general manager, big plans for future

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Septa has a new boss.

Jeffrey Knueppel, the new general manager, has only been on the job for nine days, and he's already got big plans for the future.

"I love to build things, and this is just a really great time," said Knueppel.

Knueppel, an engineer, is making sure Septa can keep moving forward.

Thanks to a major change to Pennsylvania's Transportation Funding Law, Septa is finally able to afford to fix some long-standing issues.

At 15th Street, for example, jacks are holding up the platform.

"It's safe right now," said Knueppel. "We want to stop having to check those supports we put under there."

Knueppel is pushing forward with a rebuilding program for the entire system. Riders can expect to see construction as Septa fixes some things you can't see, as well as things you can.

The plan includes updating the stations and getting new and bigger trains, trolleys and buses to make room for the growing number of people using public transportation.

"For the first time, we're looking for double-decker trains on the railroad," said Knueppel.

That is still about three years away, but some changes are right around the corner.

One card will soon be your ticket to ride on any Septa vehicle.

Septa is testing the technology with plans to phase it in by the end of the year, start of the New Year.

"It'll function very much like easy pass. You can go online and load money into it or you can just have it regularly put money into your account" said Knueppel.

Based on popular demand, Septa will also add a device that will make it possible to show riders, on their phones, real-time information about when their ride will arrive.

"We can only catch our bus location every 3 minutes, based on the antiquated system we have," said Knueppel. "Going forward, we'll update that every 30 seconds,"

Septa said the goal is really simple - to make sure everyone gets where they need to go.