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Trolleys back in the tunnel, more traffic/transportation news

August 18, 2014

trolleySome great news, folks! No more trolley diversion to 40th and Market Streets as after almost a three-week break the trolley service has resumed in the tunnel. The tunnel was closed for Trolley Tunnel Blitz, a 17-day maintenance and construction project. The trolley diversion during this period caused some traffic delays on 40th Street, especially during rush hours. The tunnel service resumed before the rush hour this morning, according to SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch.

We’re not fully in the transportation clear yet though. Some segments of Spruce Street will be closed this week for Penn students move-in. Here are the dates, times and areas you should avoid:

Thursday, Aug. 21: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.: Spruce Street between 34th and 38th Streets
Friday, Aug. 22: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Spruce Street between 34th and 38th Streets
Saturday, Aug. 23: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Spruce Street between 38th and 40th Streets

They’re very likely going to ask you to walk your bike along those blocks and, of course, they are closed to vehicle traffic.

Now back to SEPTA news:

The “Night Owl” 24-hour weekend subway service, which is a pilot program, has been extended until November 2. The pilot was initially scheduled to run through Labor Day weekend. The extension will let SEPTA evaluate the service during fall ridership season.

SEPTA has just released a new mobile app for Android users that offers riders a variety of SEPTA travel information. The new app allows you to check your schedule, check for alerts, detours and service advisories on your route, find the location and get real-time information for regional rail trains, find the travel option nearest you, and stay connected with SEPTA. You can download the app on this page.

BTW, a new sign has been spotted on the Route 34 Trolley that reminds riders of seat etiquette:

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Spruce Street closure info as Penn students start moving in

August 15, 2014

spruceblockIs the summer already over? Penn is preparing for a big student move-in, which means that Spruce street will be closed again between 34th and 40th Streets on certain days starting Sunday, Aug 17. Watch out for traffic detours and bus re-routing during street closure times (see below). Also, you will have to walk your bike on closed Spruce Street segments.

Here are more details from the Penn Division of Public Safety:

“To facilitate new student move-in, closures of Spruce Street will take place on the following dates, times and locations:

Sunday, August 17th7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.: Spruce Street between 34th and 40th Streets
Thursday, August 21st7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.: Spruce Street between 34th and 38th Streets
Friday, August 22nd7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Spruce Street between 34th and 38th Streets
Saturday, August 23rd7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Spruce Street between 38th and 40th Streets

UPPD  will be on location to assist with traffic flow.

  • Emergency vehicles and hospital patient transport vehicles will be permitted access.
  • Access will be provided to the Ryan Vet Hospital: Access will be provided for non-emergency cases by way of 40th and Spruce Streets, emergency cases will be permitted access at 38th and Spruce Streets.
  • No taxi cabs will be permitted access.
  • Vendors will be permitted access to enter the street prior to the 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.
  • HUP, Morgue and Wistar deliveries will be allowed to enter Spruce Street at 34th Street.
  • Garage 14 will be open and accessible throughout move-in.”

 

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WePAC moving to a new location, holding big sale

August 15, 2014

wepacmovingsale

Photo from WePAC’s Facebook page.

West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC), a non-profit organization that re-opens public school libraries closed for lack of funding and staffs them with volunteers, is moving to a new location and holding a big moving sale at their current location in Powelton Village at 3603 Hamilton Street. The two-day sale began on Thursday and everything must go before their moving day this Sunday.

Lots of items are offered for free or at low-cost, including chairs, office chairs, desks, a vacuum, a portable freestanding AC, metal cabinets, freestanding metal drawers, vases, a trunk, computer monitors, computer accessories for scrap, a working laser printer, a large JB Van Scriven conference table, a coffee maker, and more.

Today’s sale started at 9 a.m. and will go on until 5 p.m. so stop by at the corner of 36th and Hamilton to check it out. Please bring a donation for the free items. All proceeds will go to WePAC’s mission.

If you have questions, send a text to 917-865-2652 or go here.

The new WePAC location starting this Sunday is at 5070 Parkside.

 

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$5 voucher for the first 1,000 people at Clark Park Farmers’ Market on Saturday

August 8, 2014

Farmersmarket

Clark Park Farmers’ Market.

There will be a nice promotion at the Clark Park Farmers’ Market happening this Saturday. Chipotle Mexican Grill will be at the market giving away free $5 vouchers to the first 1,000 people who come to the market. The vouchers can be used for anything sold by official market vendors, including Weckerly’s Ice Cream, Triple Tree Flowers, and Tacos Don Memo. Chipotle will only have 1,000 vouchers with them, so once they run out, that’s it! No purchase is necessary to receive a voucher.

Chipotle has pledged to purchase 20 million pounds of locally-sourced produce in 2014 and has partnered with The Food Trust, who runs the market, to promote Philadelphia-area farmers’ markets during National Farmers’ Market week.

The vouchers are only valid at this Saturday’s Clark Park Farmers’ Market, and cannot be honored at any other location or on any other date. If you have any questions about the promotion or how can spend your voucher, stop by the market manager table (right next to the Friends of Clark Park table).

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Sit down on these new benches and ponder some Dickens

August 2, 2014

The new benches inscribed with Charles Dickens quotes were recently installed in Clark Park. If you are in the park this weekend stop by the Dickens statue to check them out. The new benches is a coordinated effort of four local organizations and individual donors. Check the Friends of Clark Park website for more information.

dickens 2

dickens 1

 

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Trolley Tunnel closes tonight at 10 for 17-day maintenance

August 1, 2014

Here’s a reminder that the trolley tunnel closes tonight at 10 p.m. for Trolley Tunnel Blitz, a 17-day maintenance and construction project. During this time, SEPTA Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will operate only west of 40th Street. Passengers traveling east of 40th Street can switch to the Market-Frankford subway line at 40th and Market where all the trolleys will divert to. You can also take a bus (Routes 42, 21).

The trolley service in the tunnel is expected to resume on August 18 at 4 a.m. We’ll keep you posted if there are any changes.

Check out this video, recently put up by SEPTA, that explains the Trolley Tunnel Blitz:

 

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