Here’s a reminder that the trolley tunnel closes tonight at 10 p.m. for Trolley Tunnel Blitz, a 17-day maintenance and construction project. During this time, SEPTA Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will operate only west of 40th Street. Passengers traveling east of 40th Street can switch to the Market-Frankford subway line at 40th and Market where all the trolleys will divert to. You can also take a bus (Routes 42, 21).

The trolley service in the tunnel is expected to resume on August 18 at 4 a.m. We’ll keep you posted if there are any changes.

Check out this video, recently put up by SEPTA, that explains the Trolley Tunnel Blitz:

Click to enlarge.

Despite a few high-profile crimes in recent days in the Spruce Hill neighborhood, including the burglary of Lil’ Pop Shop near 44th and Spruce on Monday and robberies at 45th and 46th and Larchwood, this summer has been fairly quiet in the University City area, according to crime stats released by the University City District earlier this week.

The stats cover an area from 50th Street east to the Schuylkill and Spring Garden (in Powelton) and Market (in Walnut Hill) south to Woodland Avenue (see map). They show a decrease in residential burglaries and robberies in the area compared to last summer and a significant drop since a rash of burglaries and robberies in February and March.

Lil’ Pop Shop owner Jeanne Chang says someone smashed the glass front door at the shop overnight on July 28 and stole cash, a crime similar to many reported in December and January. Police caught that guy though. A police source said that a man was arrested for a series of burglaries, including several burglaries at local businesses, may have committed as many as 20 in the area.

University City, like much of city, has seen a fairly steady drop in crime in recent years. The drop is likely steep here because of the increased activity of a number of public safety organizations, including the Philadelphia Police Department, Penn Police, the UCD Ambassadors and several neighborhood watch groups.

Crime statistics from the University City District for the last 12 months.