Construction work on the Chestnut Street Bridge and Schuylkill Expressway/I-76 viaducts will resume on Monday, May 4, according to an announcement by PennDOT. Motorists should watch out for reduced lanes and closed shoulders and ramps in the work area. Expect significant backups and delays near the work area.

PennDOT is resuming the project in accordance with Governor Tom Wolf’s plan for a phased-in reopening of public and private construction. The project was paused on March 17 in response to mitigation efforts. Work on the project will be in compliance with Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan, which includes protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings, personal and job-site cleaning protocols, and other safety measures.  Continue Reading

UPDATE (4/15/2020): SEPTA began offering free surgical masks to riders on some buses and subway trains and at 69th Street, 15th Street, Suburban and Jefferson stations, according to reports. This is a temporary initiative intended for riders who have not yet secured their own masks or facial coverings. It will only be available while supplies last, according to CBS Philly.

4/14/2020: SEPTA’s “Lifeline Service Schedule,” designed for safer traveling for essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, went into effect on April 9th. The new schedule includes suspended select trolley lines and bus routes and also closed select trolley and train stops/stations.

The original Lifeline Service Schedule, published last Wednesday, has been updated. Some El stations in West Philadelphia that SEPTA had planned to close, including the 46th Street station, remain in operation.  Continue Reading

Starting Thursday, April 9, SEPTA will switch to a “Lifeline Service Schedule,” when service will be modified to make stops only at select stations or will be suspended on entire routes. As part of these new measures focusing on essential travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, Route 34 Trolley will be suspended until further notice beginning Thursday. All other routes – 10, 11, 13, 15, 36 – will continue to operate on a Saturday schedule, seven days a week.

In addition, the following trolley line stations will be closed: 13th St, 19th St, 33rd St, and 36th St.  Continue Reading

UPDATE (Friday, April 3, 2020): Starting Monday, April 6, recycling will be picked up in Philadelphia every other week (through May 15th or further), so there will be no recycling collection next week. Residents are asked to put out their recyclables the following week. Trash collection will continue every week.

(4/2/2020): The coronavirus pandemic has started disrupting some city services, according to reports. Some neighbors noticed that their trash was not picked up yesterday. Delays with trash collection in the city should now be expected, reports Plan Philly, as more sanitation workers are calling out of work.

“While delivering on-time collection services remains an essential core service, residents are asked for their patience and cooperation while we work to deliver service,” the City’s Streets Department representative told Plan Philly.

If your trash or recycling hasn’t been picked up, you can report your block to 311.

UPDATE: The Streets Department is currently one day behind and will be working into this weekend to make sure all trash and recycling are collected. Residents should continue to set out their trash on their normal collection day. Continue Reading

All SEPTA City Transit service – buses, trolleys, Market Frankford, Broad Street, and Norristown High Speed Lines – will be operating on a Saturday schedule, starting next week (Sunday, March 22). This timetable will be in effect seven days a week until further notice.

SEPTA is reducing its service in the city due to a decline in ridership since many people are staying home amid the coronavirus outbreak. Earlier this week, SEPTA reduced Regional Rail service.

For more information and updates, visit: septa.org.

A Route 15 trolley decorated for the holidays. (Photo courtesy of SEPTA)

SEPTA  will suspend 15 trolley service beginning Sunday, Jan. 26 for 12 to 18 months due to ongoing trolley car maintenance issues and road projects. Bus service will be offered during this time, according to SEPTA.

Most of the 73-year-old Route 15 trolleys are aging fast, according to SEPTA. Only four out the 18 cars used on the route are in good working order. The 18 historic green-and-tan cars were rebuilt during the first Route 15 trolley service suspension (due to budget cuts), which lasted from 1992 until 2005.

Route 15 serves over 8,200 riders each day, according to SEPTA.

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