Photo by G. Widman

Philadelphia will take center stage this Saturday for the 250th Semiquincentennial anniversary, bringing extensive road closures and schedule modifications across the city. If you need to time a last-minute grocery run, find a place to cool off, or navigate a modified SEPTA schedule, check out this quick guide of what’s open, closed, and altered around West Philly for July 4th.

Public Services & Closures

Government Offices: All city, state, and federal government offices are closed.

The Free Library of Philadelphia: All branches will be closed on Saturday and Sunday, however the Walnut Street and Blackwell branches will operate as cooling centers from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Continue Reading

A pedestrian safety island at 57th and Chestnut.

Chestnut Street is getting a safety upgrade. According to the Philadelphia Streets Department, new pedestrian “refuge islands” are scheduled for installation along the corridor.

Seven intersections slated for the new pedestrian refuge islands are:

Continue Reading

University of Pennsylvania students are scheduled to move out of their dormitories this Tuesday, May 12, and Wednesday, May 13. To facilitate the move-out process, Spruce Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic and bicycles between 34th and 40th Streets from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days.

SEPTA buses operating in this area will be on detour during the closure hours. Visit septa.org for more details.

Access to the Ryan Veterinary Hospital will remain available via the intersections at 38th and 40th Streets.

Motorists should expect delays in the area.

SEPTA is planning to implement the New Bus Network this year, with Phase 1 beginning in August, according to a recent announcement. The initiative, formerly known as Bus Revolution, launched in 2021 with the goal to comprehensively redesign the entire bus network, but had to be postponed a couple of times.

This new network was approved by the SEPTA Board in May 2024, following a large community engagement effort, which included 150 in-person events, 40 virtual meetings and 10 public hearings. About 20,000 residents provided feedback for the project over a 3-year period.

The plan will be implemented as part of SEPTA’s Annual Service Plan process, which will include additional hearings on April 15 before a Board vote in May.

Continue Reading

If you’re a frequent SEPTA trolley rider, you’ve probably been stuck at least a few times on a trolley that was blocked by a vehicle double-parked in its lane. To help clear the tracks and keep trolleys moving without delays, the Philadelphia Parking Authority has launched an Automated Trolley Camera Enforcement program that will help track and fine drivers who double-park in trolley lanes and “no stopping” zones. The new initiative, the first of its kind in the country, has launched today with the activation of AI-powered cameras on 30 trolleys.

Continue Reading

Here’s some great news for SEPTA’s T5 Trolley Modernization Project. The T5 Trolley Route (former Route 36), which serves people in West and Southwest Philadelphia, is receiving $2 million for its modernization, including new vehicles, on-street stations and infrastructure, as well as new traffic signals, pedestrian safety bump-outs, and accessibility and stormwater drainage improvements.

The funding is part of a $27 million state investment in transportation safety. It was received through Pennsylvania’s ARLE (Automated Red-Light Enforcement) program, which aims to improve safety at intersections with traffic signals by providing automated enforcement at locations where data shows red-light running has been an issue. Fines from red light violations at intersections in Philadelphia are used for grants.

The T5 Trolley Modernization Project kicked off in 2024 and is currently in its design phase, with construction expected to begin in 2027. For more details, visit: https://wwww.septa.org/trolley-modernization/t5.