U. finalizes plan to deal with possible SEPTA strike

University officials finalized a plan yesterday detailing how the University will cope with a possible SEPTA strike. Hundreds of University faculty, staff and administrators, as well as commuting students, who rely on SEPTA for daily transportation to and from the University could be affected by a SEPTA strike. According to Steven Murray, associate vice president of business services, a letter will be sent out to the Universiy community next Wednesday advising of the possibility of a SEPTA strike. The letter will recommend that each University department provide bulletin board space for and encourage organization of car pools, Murray said. Car pooling would reduce commuting traffic and parking problems. In addition, he said, the letter will advise departments to be as flexible as possible with time requirements for employees arriving to work. But, Murray added, allowing lateness and changing time restrictions could be more difficult for some departments than others. "The hospital is not as flexible as a research department," Murray said. The University will also operate buses to take commuting students and faculty, staff and administrators to and from 30th Street Station, the Lindenwald Terminal at 16th and Locust Streets and the 69th Street Terminal, Murray said. According to Murray, buses to the two terminals will be run in cooperation with Drexel University. Buses used will be a combination of the Penn Bus, buses that usually take crews to the Schuylkill River, buses the University normally uses for charter services and possibly some buses from outside the University. Murray said the most difficult aspect of using University buses is adjusting the buses' normal schedules to morning and evening rush hour schedules. The University has developed schedules for the buses, Murray said, but Jack Heuer, manager of labor relations said Drexel officials have to approve the times on Monday. The University will also give out information about where parking is available, although not free, for driving commuters, Murray said. Heuer said he thinks the University's plan will be efficient. During the last SEPTA strike in 1986, Heuer said the University used a similar plan, and it worked well. In addition, the University is planning on increasing bus activity from 1986. Heuer said this measure would make the plan more efficient. "We found that it [the plan] worked in 1986, and we learned from it then and increased some of the [bus] activity," Heuer said. In addition, Murray said having to deal with a SEPTA strike will not cost the University much because the University will use mostly its own staff and buses to transport people.

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