SEPTA’s Youth Advisory Council will be giving the floor to young riders in a series of public forums designed to gather their feedback on issues and possible system improvements of importance to them. The forums, to be held on University of Pennsylvania and Temple campuses, are the second phase of the YAC’s three-step service evaluation process, which will culminate in a set of recommendations on how SEPTA can better serve its youth riders.

The YAC was created by SEPTA in September 2009 to function as its “primary outreach group to riders ages 14 to 22.” It officially kicked off its service evaluation process in February with the release of its Youth Rider Survey, which has since gathered detailed feedback from over 400 college students. A parallel survey project with the Philadelphia School District is expected to generate an equal number of high school results by mid-June.

Youth Rider Forums will begin with brief presentations from the YAC and SEPTA staff that will inform attendees of existing resources and capital improvement projects. A deliberative component will follow, in which youth will work within small groups to prioritize service improvements they would most like the YAC to advocate to SEPTA.

The first forum will be held on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus on Wednesday, April 21, 6:45-7:45 p.m.; The Terrace Room (G14), Claudia Cohen Hall, 249 S. 36th Street, Philadelphia 19104.

An additional public forum is planned for Temple University’s Main Campus early in September 2010. Attendance at forums will be open to all youth riders in the SEPTA service area.

Please contact YAC Chair Philip Dawson at dawsonb@sas.upenn.edu or 267-481-6839 for more information on the YAC or the Youth Rider Forums.