The Philly PHLASH Downtown Loop (also known as the Philly PHLASH or PHLASH) is a visitor-friendly public transit service in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, managed by the Independence Visitor Center Corporation (IVCC).[1] PHLASH vehicles are ADA-compliant, temperature-controlled New Flyer MiDi buses. The IVCC contracted Krapf Transit to manage vehicle operations.
| Philly PHLASH Downtown Loop | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Operator | Independence Visitor Center Corporation in partnership with SEPTA. Vehicle service provided by Krapf Transit |
| Vehicle | New Flyer MiDi, Alexander Dennis Enviro200 |
| Status | Operational |
| Began service | 1994 |
| Routes | |
| Routes | 1 |
| Locale | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Stations | 20 |
| Service | |
| Ridership | 314,000 (2016)[needs update] |
| www.ridephillyphlash.com | |
The PHLASH route is particularly notable for connecting Philadelphia's main tourist attractions, from Penn's Landing on the Delaware River Waterfront, to National Park Service sites like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Independence National Historical Park, to cultural institutions along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway like the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and attractions like the Philadelphia Zoo and Please Touch Museum in Fairmount Park.[2]
More of the attractions located close to the PHLASH route are:
- Penn's Landing
- National Museum of American Jewish History
- Independence Hall
- Liberty Bell
- Museum of the American Revolution
- National Constitution Center
- Pennsylvania Convention Center
- Reading Terminal Market
- The Franklin Institute
- Barnes Foundation
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Rodin Museum
- Eastern State Penitentiary
- Please Touch Museum
- Philadelphia Zoo
- Mütter Museum
- The Shops at Liberty Place
- One Liberty Observation Deck
The PHLASH runs weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) service in the spring and fall, and daily service during the summer and holiday season, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on operating days. PHLASH service caters mostly to tourists who are not familiar with the city landscape.[3] The fare is $2 for a single trip, $5 for a one-day pass, and $9 for a two-day pass, but is free for all SEPTA Key holders.
Service history
editThe PHLASH was first introduced in 1994 by then Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell.[4] Michael Masch, the Philadelphia budget director at the time, helped create the transit line naming it after his favorite Marvel Comics character Flash.[5] The service was operated by the city's Center City District starting in the late 1990s. In order to keep fares at a price point attractive to visitors, the PHLASH service has always been subsidized.[1]
By 2011, the state grant that had been providing a subsidy for PHLASH operations was almost exhausted. With Gov. Rendell was leaving the governor's office, additional funding didn't appear to be forthcoming, and the service was in danger of shutting down.
In 2012, the IVCC took over management of the PHLASH under CEO, James J. Cuorato, who believed the PHLASH provided an important service for Philadelphia tourism. Cuorato was able to successfully secure funding by convincing the state legislature to include an allotment for PHLASH in its Transportation Package bill, by partnering with Philadelphia's public transportation provider, SEPTA.[1]
In 2016, PHLASH had a record-breaking season, with 314,000 riders.[6]
Fleet
editAll buses are ADA compliant. Prior to the current fleet, the PHLASH operated with replica trolley buses. The service is operated by Krapf Transit.[7][8]
| Fleet Number(s) | Photo | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1315 | 2013 | New Flyer | MiDi 30' | Cummins ISB6.7 | Allison B300 | ||
| 1413, 1415–1417, 1512 | 2014 | MiDi 35' |
| ||||
| 1511 | 2015 | MiDi 30' | |||||
| 1811 | 2018 | Alexander Dennis | Enviro200 | Cummins B6.7 | Allison B300R | Equipped with front and rear bumper. |
References
edit- ^ a b c Henninger, Danya (March 25, 2016). "You'll never believe who kept the Philly Phlash from shutting down". Billy Penn at WHYY.
- ^ "Philly PHLASH".
- ^ "Philadelphia PHLASH Downtown Bus Loop".
- ^ Panaritis, Maria (November 27, 2014). "Once nearly grounded, Philly Phlash rides on". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- ^ "Resolution honoring Michael Masch" (PDF). Philadelphia City Council. February 18, 2021.
- ^ "Top 5 Reasons to Ride the PHLASH". iseptaphilly.com. May 19, 2017.
- ^ "PHLASH - CPTDB Wiki". cptdb.ca. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
- ^ "Krapf Group - CPTDB Wiki". cptdb.ca. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
External links
editMedia related to Philly Phlash at Wikimedia Commons
- https://www.phlvisitorcenter.com/PHLASH