March 2: Oil train danger zone | PPA’s plan to save traditional cabs | $42M from school sales

An analysis from PublicSource in Pittsburgh says about 1.5 million Pennsylvanians are potentially in the blast zone in the event of a crude oil train derailment.

The PPA has “no expectation that the taxicab industry will voluntarily work to save itself” so they’re proposing new regulations requiring newer, higher quality common carrier vehicles. That still doesn’t get at the unusually low ratio of cabs to people in Philadelphia, compared to some of our peer cities.

The Philadelphia Water Department’s efforts to catch the first inch of rainfall through greening projects has other social and economic benefits for neighborhoods too, according to a new study.

State Senate Republicans want to trade pension reform for Governor Tom Wolf’s tax reform proposals.

The city has only netted $42 million so far from the sale of closed school buildings. They’ve sold 12 so far, and sales are pending for another 14 properties. Back in 2013, Darrell Clarke argued these properties were worth $200 million. 

Transit blogger Michael Noda says SEPTA officials have told him on background that they could be open to negotiating discounted bulk fare purchase agreements with universities and major employers once SEPTA Key is rolled out.