It’s time to replace those worn out overhead wires and tracks in the Center City tunnel, says SEPTA. The tunnel maintenance and construction project is scheduled for August 1-18, 2014 and here’s what it means for West Philly trolley riders:

SEPTA Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the tunnel from 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1 through 4 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 18. Trolley service will begin and end at 40th and Market Streets and passengers are advised to use Market-Frankford Line for travel to and from Center City, as the repair work will not affect that service.

During the so-called “Trolley Tunnel Blitz,” SEPTA crews will work around-the-clock to complete numerous overhead wire, track and station improvement projects, which will help improve safety and service reliability of the trolleys that run through the tunnel, according to SEPTA’s announcement. Some of this work includes replacing nearly 24,000 feet of worn overhead contact wire throughout the tunnel, installing more than 14,000 feet of new rail on the eastbound track, and making numerous station repairs and improvements such as on stairs, lighting and platforms.

You can also say goodbye to the graffiti in the tunnel. The project includes graffiti removal, painting and heavy cleaning at all stations throughout the tunnel.

For more details on the maintenance and construction work scheduled during the Trolley Tunnel Blitz, visit SEPTA’s website.
 

With the Fourth of July festivities and increased number of visitors in Center City in mind, SEPTA has prepared some subway and bus service changes for tomorrow. Here are some of them that may be of particular interest to West Philly residents:

• The Broad Street & Market Frankford Lines will operate an additional night of overnight subway service beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 4.

•  Beginning at 4:30 p.m., service frequencies on the Broad Street & Market Frankford Line will increase to offer trains every 5 to 7 minutes until 1:15 a.m. to accommodate holiday event travel.

•  Holiday events in Center City and on the Parkway will force dozens of bus detours. Passengers traveling through Center City should consider rail travel alternatives. Detailed bus detour information is available online at http://www.septa.org/realtime/status

And here’s some more information on tomorrow’s parade, party and fireworks. The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. at 6th and Chestnut Sts. It will feature marching bands, floats, military groups and performance teams. Party on the Parkway is from 12 – 7 p.m. on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 20th St to Eakins Oval. The 4th of July Jam and Grand Finale Fireworks will take place at 7 – 11 p.m. on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Roots will perform with Nicki Minaj, Ed Sheeran, Jennifer Hudson, Aloe Blacc, and Vicci Martinez. Click here for more information.

Happy Fourth of July!

Here’s some good news for local moto owners. Starting this month and through October 2014, a new pilot program launched by The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) (we hear it was pushed by the Motorcycle and Scooter Coalition) will address the parking needs of motorcycles and scooters in University City and Center City. The program makes it possible to park your motor vehicles on sidewalks in residential areas and in specially designated corrals on commercial streets. Here are some more details, according to the PPA website:

For the duration of the program, motorcycles and scooters are permitted to park on sidewalks in front of the operator’s residence with a valid Residential Permit Parking (RPP) permit for that district. A Day Pass or Temporary RPP permit issued to a resident’s visitors will also be honored. On unregulated residential blocks motorcycles or scooters may park in front of their home without a permit.

On commercial streets not designated with RPP, sidewalk parking is not allowed. Instead, to accommodate the motorcycle and scooter parking needs, the PPA has installed 47 corrals in Center City and University City to provide parking spaces for 180 motor vehicles (check out the map). We noticed that on the left bank of the Schuylkill there are only three corrals available, so there may be a need for more. Suggestions for additional corrals can be submitted through the PPA Facebook page.

Here’s what you should know if you’re using a corral (from the PPA website):

“Because securing scooters was a major priority for those representing scooter riders, corrals will be equipped with a mechanism to lock the motorcycle or scooter to a post at the curb.

• During the trial period, there will be no charge to park motorcycles or scooters in the designated corrals.  Those individuals who purchased virtual permits to park on the street may apply for a refund of the prorated remaining value of the permit.

• Motorcycles or scooters parked in metered spaces outside of the designated corrals must pay the required meter fee or abide by other posted parking restrictions.

• The Philadelphia Parking Authority will increase enforcement of other vehicles illegally parked in motorcycle/scooter zones.”

The PPA welcomes feedback from motorcycle and scooter riders during the pilot program and encourages them to use their social media (here’s also their Twitter page). For more details about the program, visit this page.

Photo by Bethany La Flamme

Over the weekend, SEPTA introduced a return to overnight subway service on Market Frankford and Broad Street lines, a pilot program that will be in effect through Labor Day. The new program means an uninterrupted, 24-hour subway service in Philadelphia (The Inquirer‘s Inga Saffron gets riders’ reaction to the return of the overnight train service).

Trains will now replace Nite Owl buses on weekends and holidays, including on July 4th and Labor Day. Buses continue to operate Nite Owl service on weekdays.

Here are some more details on how the overnight subway service will operate:

• SEPTA cashiers will staff major hubs and high ridership stations overnight on both lines. Where a cashier is present, riders will pay at the entrance gate.

• At unstaffed locations, signage will direct passengers through turnstiles to the Owl boarding location, where they will pay fares to the train operator at the head of the train before entering the train.

• Operators will accept exact cash fares, tokens, and passes. They will sell transfers, but will not give out change.

• Trains will run every 20 minutes between midnight and 5:00 a.m. Arrival times at the City Hall/15th Street Stations will be staggered by 10 minutes to accommodate transfers.

• Extra SEPTA police officers will be deployed to provide an enhanced level of security.

• A passenger guide with additional information and tips for riding is available online at www.septa.org/service/all-night.html

SEPTA used to have a 24-hour subway service, but it was replaced by buses in 1991 due to low ridership.

“Philadelphia has changed since that time,” SEPTA General Manager Joseph M. Casey said in a statement. “Now with all of the restaurants, increased late-night activity, and people moving back into the city, we’re excited to be able to provide this service that city, business leaders, and customers have been asking us for.”

Nearly 10,000 riders currently use the Nite Owl bus service on weekends, according to SEPTA’s report. SEPTA’s staff will evaluate ridership, staffing costs, overall security, and other factors to determine whether 24-hour weekend subway service will continue beyond the pilot program.

It’s that time of year when thousands of Penn students are moving out of their dorms and campus apartments, so some streets will be closed to get this done. Here’s a traffic advisory from Penn’s Division of Public Safety:

On Tuesday, May 13 and Wednesday, May 14, 2014, Spruce Street will be CLOSED to traffic from 34th through 40th Streets, in both directions, between 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

– Emergency vehicles and hospital patient transport vehicles will be permitted access.

– Access will be provided to the Ryan Vet Hospital. No taxi cabs will be permitted access.

– Vendors will be permitted access to enter the street prior to the 7 a.m. street closure.

– Bikes will need to be walked on Spruce Street while the streets are closed to traffic.

– Septa Routes 40 and 42 will be re-routed (check this page for more info).

– During this street closure: HUP, Penn Vet, Morgue and Wistar deliveries will be allowed to enter Spruce Street at 34th Street.

– Garage 14 will be open and accessible throughout move-out.

Ever want to tell someone who would listen about a spot that needs a bike rack? Now there’s an app for that.

Named “Got Bike Racks?,” the app (it’s more of a web-based survey and mapping tool, but still pretty cool) will help the University Bike Collective make an argument for getting bike racks where they are needed. The tool allows you to make a case for your spot, include a photo and comment on the requests of others.

Requests on the site so far include one for more racks at The Fresh Grocer. We echo that, but would add that the Supreme Shop ‘n Bag at 43rd and Walnut could use a couple more. Oh, and as long as you’re asking, how about 30th Street Station?

The app will be up until mid March.