SEPTA Trolleys Won’t Run Downtown for Half of August

J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia

In order to do extensive work in the trolley tunnels, SEPTA will not be running trolleys underground from August 1st to August 18th. The trolleys will divert to 40th and Market streets. Riders will have to transfer to and from the Market-Frankford El at those spots. The route diversion effects the 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 trolleys.

They’re calling it the “Trolley Tunnel Blitz.”

SEPTA says on its website that doing this track work over nights and weekends would take almost a year. But it can get all of the work done if it shuts down the trolleys downtown in one 17-day chunk. There are also El stops at 13th, 15th and 30th; riders who would’ve liked to board at another station will have to go to the El there.

Workers will be doing track work in the tunnels, including the installation of 14,140 feet of new track between 40th and 22nd streets. 24,000 feet of overhead wire will be replaced in the tunnels, along with 5,000 feet of wire support assemblies. SEPTA is also doing graffiti removal and general maintenance of the tunnels.

[SEPTA via Philly.com]