SEPTA is expected to receive $317,160,000 in infrastructure funding to purchase approximately 200 new rail cars on the Market-Frankford Line, according to a recent joint announcement by U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA), U.S. Representatives Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2), Dwight Evans (D-PA-3), and Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-5), and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rail Vehicle Replacement Program, created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Pennsylvania delegation in Congress has consistently fought for federal funding for SEPTA to improve accessibility, promote sustainability and reduce emissions. This investment is thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.

“A few weeks ago, I led a letter to the Department of Transportation on the urgent need to support SEPTA. Today, I am thrilled to join with my colleagues and announce DOT’s $317 million investment to support new cars on the Market-Frankford Line,” Fetterman said.

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

SEPTA customers who are planning to use SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line on Monday should prepare for service delays. Due to ongoing inspections following the discovery this weekend of support-beam cracks on two Market-Frankford Line rail cars, there will be a temporary shortage of rail cars during peak travel times. Beginning with the morning rush hour on Monday, Feb. 6, trains will operate with longer intervals, and supplemental bus service will be provided.

During the peak periods – 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. – service will operate as frequently as possible with available vehicles, and A/B stop service will be suspended. Supplemental buses will be positioned at locations along the line to provide alternative service. Midday and evening train service will operate on regular schedules, as will overnight Owl Bus service.  Continue Reading

This morning, SEPTA and TWU Local 234 have announced a tentative five-year contract that will bring 4,700-plus employees back to work and end a six-day strike that shut down the City Transit Division.

Service will be phased back in today on the Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line subway, city buses and trolleys, with full schedules restored by the start of the service day on Tuesday.

Limited service on the Market-Frankford Line has been restored starting at 9 a.m. today. Limited bus and trolley service is expected to resume later today:

MFL: Starting at 9AM, service will operate every 15 minutes. Trains will not service 5th Street Station due to the Hillary Clinton Rally.

— SEPTA (@SEPTA_MFL) November 7, 2016

MFL: Limited bus, trolley, and subway service will resume later today. Check System Status for updates on your routes.

— SEPTA (@SEPTA_MFL) November 7, 2016

Hello, El, we've missed you. pic.twitter.com/TQhapHFFH1

— Ronnie Polaneczky (@RonniePhilly) November 7, 2016

City Transit Division service has been shut down since the start of the TWU Local 234 strike at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1.  Continue Reading

UPDATE (8:00 p.m.): Penn officials identified the student who was struck and killed this morning by a SEPTA subway train as 21-year-old Ao “Olivia” Kong. She was a Philadelphia native and a graduate of Central High School, Philly.com reports.

UPDATE (2:44 p.m.) The University of Pennsylvania has confirmed that the woman struck by an eastbound Market-Frankford line train and killed this morning at the 40th Street station was a Penn student. Penn President Amy Gutmann indicated in an e-mail to students and staff this afternoon that the student was a junior. Her name was not released. Police have said there was no indication that she was pushed onto the tracks. The Daily Pennsylvanian reports that the woman was a student in the Wharton School.

An eastbound Market-Frankford Line train struck and killed a woman at about 7 a.m. on Monday at the 40th Street station, according to reports.

Service was suspended between the 30th Street and 52nd Street stations until 9:40 a.m. and shuttle buses were provided along Market Street.

There was no indication that the woman fell or was pushed onto the track, according to SEPTA.

Some long-anticipated accessibility improvements are finally coming to SEPTA’s 40th Street Market Frankford Line Station. Today, SEPTA, with state and city elected officials, disability advocates and West Philadelphia community and business leaders broke ground on the 40th St Station ADA Accessibility Project, which will include the installation of two elevators on the northwest and southeast corners of 40th and Market Streets. In addition to the two new elevators, the $7.4 million construction project includes four new head house entrances and overall station improvements.

“In addition to the accessibility enhancements, all users will benefit from the improvements to be made at this station,” according to SEPTA general manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel, who participated in the groundbreaking ceremony.  Continue Reading