SEPTA trolley service in the tunnel connecting West Philadelphia with Center City resumed this morning. The tunnel was closed for 16 days for the annual maintenance and construction called the Trolley Tunnel Blitz. This summer SEPTA crews replaced about 7,500 feet of track on the westbound side of the tunnel between 22nd Street Station and the 40th Street Portal.

This is a reminder that the SEPTA Trolley Tunnel Blitz, the annual maintenance and construction project in the trolley tunnel connecting West Philadelphia and Center City, is underway until Monday, Aug. 17. All trolleys are being diverted to 40th and Market where passengers can switch to the Market-Frankford line.

Over the weekend, SEPTA crews were also repairing tracks at the 40th Street Trolley Portal at 40th and Woodland (see photo below).

The annual Center City Trolley Tunnel maintenance and construction project (SEPTA Trolley Tunnel Blitz) is scheduled for July 31 – Aug. 17, 2015, which means there will be no trolley service in the tunnel during this period. Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the tunnel from 10 p.m. on Friday, July 31 through 4 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 17 while SEPTA crews complete a variety of power, track and station improvement projects.

During the 16-day tunnel closure, passengers can use the Market-Frankford Line from 40th Street station to travel to and from Center City. All trolleys will be diverted to 40th and Market Streets where passengers can switch to subway service at no additional cost.

During the Blitz, SEPTA crews will replace almost 7,500 feet (more than one mile) of track on the westbound side of the tunnel between 22nd Street Station and the 40th Street Portal.

On Saturday, July 4, SEPTA Transit Service including bus, trolley and subway service will operate on a Sunday schedule. Regional Rail will operate on a Saturday schedule on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4. On Saturday, additional service will be added on many lines to accommodate travelers heading to and from events in Center City. Planned service changes by mode include:

Market Frankford and Broad Street Lines

Additional trains will be added on each line beginning at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, providing service every 5 to 7 minutes through 1:00 a.m. on Sunday. Regular weekend “Night Owl” rail service will be in effect throughout the holiday weekend, providing trains every 20 minutes until 5:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. 15th Street Station on the Market-Frankford Line and City Hall and Race-Vine Stations on the Broad Street Line provide easy walking access to and from the Parkway.

Trolley

Additional trips on Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will be added on Saturday evening headed to Center City before the concert and fireworks show on the Parkway, with additional trolleys departing Center City on each line after Parkway events end.  Continue Reading

Click to enlarge.

Philadelphia has one of the highest rates of pedestrian traffic fatalities in the United States among large cities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s data. The Bicycle Coalition of the Greater Philadelphia has just released the official Vision Zero report, which contains statistics on the safety of Philadelphia streets and a series of policies that aims to bring traffic deaths and injuries down to zero for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. According to the report, traffic crashes kill about 100 people per year citywide and cost $1 billion in damages and economic activity.

The report breaks down traffic crashes and statistics by neighborhood (see map). In West Philadelphia, the report shows that 52nd Street, between Baltimore Avenue and Sansom Street is the fourth-worst corridor for pedestrian-involved crashes in the city. Also, 40th and Market Streets, where many people are crossing the street to use the Market-Frankford Line, is in the top 10 of crash sites in the city. The intersection saw 15 pedestrian-involved crashes between 2009 and 2013.

Vision Zero policies have already been successfully adopted in other U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago and San Francisco. Vision Zero Philadelphia proposes partnerships among various municipal agencies, and includes recommendations for safer road design, traffic calming strategies, and suggestions for funding sources. The document also stresses the importance of cultural shift and public education campaigns. Both of Philadelphia’s current mayoral candidates support the policies.

The full report can be downloaded here.

The University Avenue drawbridge over the Schuylkill River will be temporarily closed tomorrow for maintenance. The following temporary restrictions are scheduled to be in effect from approximately 7  a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 20.

• The University Avenue drawbridge will be closed to all traffic. No detours will be posted for this short duration closure. Alternate Schuylkill River crossings include Gray’s Ferry Avenue to the south of the project, the Schuylkill Expressway, and South Street Bridge to the north.
• Northbound University Avenue traffic closures will begin at Gray’s Ferry Avenue.
• Southbound Schuylkill Expressway traffic will be stopped at the westbound entrance.
• The eastbound Schuylkill Expressway ramp will remain open, however existing traffic on the ramp will not be permitted to travel southbound on University Avenue.
• Pedestrian and bicycle traffic will not be allowed.