by KYW's Mike Dunn
Charges of racial discrimination top the latest court hearing over SEPTA’s plan to eliminate paper transfers.
Lawyers revealed on Monday that the Federal Transit Administration had just chided SEPTA for not conducting a study on how the elimination of transfers would impact low-income riders.
City solicitor Romy Diaz (right) said SEPTA simply disregarded federal law:
“There should be a minority analysis. The fact that it wasn’t conducted is disturbing. And our analysis suggests that there are going to be significant minority riders who are affected.”
And the city’s attorney who is arguing the case, Mark Zecca, went further than that: in court he accused SEPTA of racial discrimination:
"They would not have done this if it were a predominately white population.”
The judge took issue, indicating there was no evidence to show that was SEPTA’s intention.
A spokesman for SEPTA denies any racial motivation in the transfer elimination, and he says the agency will submit an impact study to federal officials.
The judge has put off a decision until week's end, at the earliest. SEPTA in the meantime is ordered to continue offering the transfers.
SEPTA had hoped to nix the transfers last week (see related stories) but Common Pleas Court judge Gary DeVito put that on hold, as he weighs the administration’s claim that the transfers are needed, particularly by students.
Mayor Street wants to block the SEPTA move:
“There are people in this city who desperately need public education, and they need those transfers.”
SEPTA Board chairman Pat Deon argues that few riders actually use the transfers:
“My understanding is that it affects probably six percent of our riders, which are occasional riders.”
And Deon says Harrisburg expected this change, and the recent fare hikes, as a prerequisite to the big-bucks bailout that will stave off massive service cuts.
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