Traditional Route: New Provider – “End of an era”
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or almost 30 years, the Krapf Family has operated the Krapf “A” fixed bus route. Affectionately known as the “A”, it has connected the City of Coatesville to Exton, and then on to the West Chester Transportation Center. The service has provided access to employment, shopping, health care and education, making it a lifeline for many in Coatesville, and along Lincoln Highway. On Aug. 1, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the Greater Philadelphia’s regional public transportation provider, will be taking over the route, and establishing it as the Route 135. Since Krapf’s purchase of the route in June of 1992 from the Modena-based bus company Reederf, Inc., until April of 2020, this route was the last independent, nonsubsidized fixed route bus service in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Due to COVID-19 and significant ridership decline with business shutdowns, Krapf through the county, sought funding relief from SEPTA to maintain the route’s service during the pandemic. At the SEPTA Board meeting on June 24, actions were taken to incorporate the route in to SEPTA’s bus network as Route 135, concluding the long running family service to the community. “This was a very difficult decision for the Krapf family,” stated Gary Krapf, President of Krapf Coaches. “However, due to the current economic climate it was no longer a sustainable service for a private entity to operate without some sort of subsidy.” Krapf added “It has been a pleasure to provide this muchneeded transportation to our communities, and we are grateful for the support of our passengers over the years.” During Krapf’s ownership they improved the service by: • Expanded service to include weekends • Formalized stops • Established shelters • Created signage • Built mobile apps • Developed a website Effective Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, SEPTA assumed operations of the Krapf’s Transit Route A bus route, and was rebranded as SEPTA Bus Route 135. It will continue to serve points between Coatesville, Thorndale, Downingtown, Exton, and West Chester, primarily on Lincoln Highway/Lancaster
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Avenue and Pottstown Pike providing connections to Septa’s 92, 104, as well as the Chescobus’ Link and SCCOOT. By incorporating the route into the SEPTA bus network, the service remains, and generates the benefits of fare interoperability, in-network transfers, and management systems, that SEPTA provide its other routes. SEPTA operates the route with SEPTA-logoed vehicles, and will create new bus stop signage. Buses plan to use most of the same boarding and alighting locations that are currently used by Krapf’s. Early in the subsidy agreement, SEPTA took over responsibility for designing service levels and schedules. SEPTA staff will work on stationing the SEPTA Key truck in Coatesville and Exton so passengers may have direct access to Key fare instruments. The Key Card is designed for seamless travel for its SEPTA’s payment system, which can be used on both buses as well as regional rail. For more information on the SEPTA Key program, and how to obtain one, log onto www.SEPTAKey.org. Routing: The service runs from Coatesville to the West Chester Transportation Center for the entire span of service, including the evening trips that did not previously operate past Exton Square Mall to West Chester.
2021 • Volume 9——v
