Susan Post
Director of Esperanza Health Center
1. How does the closure of Somerset Station affect you and people in the neighborhood? What challenges may you face in accessing transportation now?
It affects all the people that live in this neighborhood. I don’t live in the neighborhood, but our patients do and it’s an inconvenience for them to try to go to another station, especially [one] not too close.
2. What are the conditions like at Somerset Station and on the Market-Frankford Line? How do they affect you?
The conditions here are not good, and I do think [the station] needs improvement, but I don’t think they need to close it down for a long period of time. I think they need to make some changes to make it more sanitized and working effectively.
3. What kinds of solutions could be implemented to create safe and reliable transportation in Kensington?
There are some facility improvements that are needed here. Taking care of it like you would a place that you expect the public to be. And it’s not taken care of well. Security, safety, those kinds of things that everybody wants, are important here.
4. Should there be a community-led advisory board, made up of stakeholders like the City, SEPTA, Kensington residents, civic associations, nonprofits, and businesses, that comes up with a plan for reopening the Somerset Station and provides long term solutions to the problems that led to its closure?
Definitely. I think the stakeholders that live here and work here are very important, and they should call the shots.
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Editors: Zari Tarazona, Claire Wolters, Siani Colón, Khy Carter, Henry Savage / Designer: Henry Savage
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