Image courtesy of SEPTA.

As Philadelphia has moved into the Yellow coronavirus re-opening phase and ridership is expected to grow, all SEPTA riders will now be required to wear a mask or facial covering. The new requirement goes into effect on Monday, June 8. In April, SEPTA asked riders to wear a facial covering to help spread COVID-19 on public transportation, but it wasn’t a requirement. SEPTA employees will “engage customers to remind them about the requirement starting Monday,” according to an announcement by SEPTA released Friday.

SEPTA returned to regular transit service on May 17, with rider limits for buses and trolleys still in effect. This will continue throughout the Yellow Phase. There are also signs marking off seats to indicate where passengers should sit to maintain a safe space.  Continue Reading

After a temporary switch to Saturday schedules and limited (“Lifeline”) service due to the COVID-19 crisis, SEPTA will return to regular service on Sunday, May 17. Regular service will resume on all trolley, Market Frankford, Broad Street and Norristown High Speed Line routes. Market Frankford and Broad Street Owl service will also resume.

Bus routes will also return to regular service, with the following exceptions:

Routes 204, 310, 311, and LUCY Gold and Green routes will continue to operate on a reduced schedule. Route 91 remains suspended.  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.