Filbert Street Trolley Track Renewal Project Will Impact Local Traffic Through December 9th, 2023

Our partners at SEPTA have announced upcoming work that will impact a portion of our neighborhood. From November 6th through December 9th, they will be performing excavation and renewal of a corroded and broken rail on Filbert Street between 38th and 40th Streets. The project will be broken into three phases, each with parking lane restrictions and accommodations, and people working and traveling through the area are asked to look for posted traffic detours around the work area in progress. SEPTA pledges that access to medical facilities, businesses, and private property will not be impeded by the work.

UPDATED NOVEMBER 9TH

SEPTA has announced that the LUCY bus will be diverted through November 20th due to the track renewal project. Here are the announced changes:

• A temporary stop will be placed at the Southeast corner of North 38th Street and Cuthbert Street. This will serve both the Green and Gold LUCY routes
• The bus routes will detour north up North 38th Street to Warren Street; east on Warren Street to North 37th Street; south on North 37 Street to Cuthbert Street; and west to North 38th Street, before turning south on to North 38th Street and stopping at the temporary stop below
• A temporary stop will be placed along the west curb line of North 38th Street between Medical Drive and Filbert Street. This will serve both the Green and Gold routes
• The LUCY routes are expected to return to normal service on November 20th, 2023. 

DETOURS – PHASE 1

• From 7 am Monday, November 6, 2023, through Monday, November 20, 2023, Filbert Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from the intersection of North 38th Street through the intersection of North 40th Street.
• Filbert Street westbound traffic will be detoured at the intersection of Filbert Street and North 38th Street onto North 38th Street; south on North 38th Street to Market Street; west on Market Street to North 41st Street; north on North 41st Street to Powelton Avenue; east on Powelton Avenue to North 40th Street; south on North 40th Street; ending at the intersection of North 40th Street and Filbert Street.
• Parking Lane Restrictions/Accommodations
  • Intersection at Medical Drive and Filbert Street will remain open from November 6, 2023, until Friday, November 17, 2023. The intersection will be closed after DaVita Dialysis’ appointments have concluded for the day (Nov. 17th). Exact time will be determined closer to Friday, November 17, 2023.
  • North 39th Street will be temporarily closed to public parking between Market and Filbert streets. This area will be temporarily reassigned as ambulance patient pick-up and drop-off points.
  • The parking lane along the NORTH CURB LINE of Market Street, between North 38th and North 39th streets, will be temporarily closed to public parking and temporarily reassigned as patient pick-up and drop-off points.
  • The parking lane along the WEST CURB LINE of North 38th Street, between Filbert and Market streets, will be temporarily closed to public parking and temporarily reassigned as patient pick-up and drop-off points.

DETOURS – PHASE 2

• From Friday, November 17, 2023, through 4 AM, Monday, November 20, 2023, the intersection at Filbert Street and Medical Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic.
  • Intersection at Medical Drive and Filbert Street will close for SEPTA construction work on Friday, November 17, 2023, and reopen during the evening of Sunday, November 19, 2023.
• Parking Lane Restrictions/Accommodations
  • Intersection at Medical Drive and Filbert Street will remain open from November 6, 2023, until Friday, November 17, 2023. The intersection will be closed after DaVita Dialysis’ appointments have concluded for the day (Nov. 17th). Exact time will be determined closer to Friday, November 17, 2023.
  • North 39th Street will be temporarily closed to public parking between Market and Filbert streets. This area will remain temporarily reassigned as ambulance patient pick-up and drop-off points. Ambulances may queue up along the EAST CURB LINE of North 39th Street and use the patient pick-up and drop-off point to access DaVita Dialysis during DaVita’s operating hours on Saturday, November 18, 2023.
  • An additional area along the SOUTH CURB LINE of Filbert Street, at the southeast corner of the intersection with North 39th Street, will be designated as an ambulance patient pick-up and drop-off point.

All work along Filbert Street, between North 38th Street and North 39th Street, is expected to be completed before 5 AM, Monday, November 20, 2023.

DETOURS – PHASE 3

• Beginning Monday, November 20, 2023, the traffic patterns on Filbert Street will change as follows:
  • The parking lane along the west curb line of North 38th Street, between Medical Drive and Filbert Street, will be restored to public parking.
  • The parking lane along the west curb line of North 38th Street, between Filbert and Market streets, will be restored to public parking.
  • The parking lane along the north curb line of Market Street, between North 38th and North 39th streets, will be restored to public parking.
  • Filbert Street will be reopened to traffic from North 38th Street to North 39th Street, allowing traffic in the following directions: Filbert Street-Westbound; Medical Drive-both Northbound and Southbound; North 39th Street-Southbound only. Access to DaVita Dialysis will be restored.
  • Filbert Street will remain CLOSED, west of North 39th Street. SEPTA trackwork will continue from the west side of the intersection of Filbert Street and North 39th Street, in a westerly direction towards North 40th Street.

• Additional Closures:
  • Sloan Street, between Powelton Avenue and Filbert Street, to be closed at Filbert Street intersection to through traffic. On-street parking will be prohibited during construction.
  • Sloan Street will be temporarily permitted to become two-way traffic. This will allow residents of Center Post Village Apartments to enter and exit the parking lot, located at the southern end of Sloan Street.
  • Upon completion of the trackwork, Sloan Street will be reopened at Filbert Street and returned to one-way in the southbound direction.

All work along Filbert Street, between North 38th Street and North 39th Street, is expected to be completed before 5 AM, Monday, November 20, 2023.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Normal construction hours are – Monday through Friday, 7 am to 3:30 pm. However, there may be weekdays where crews work past 3:30 pm. Occasional weekend work may also be needed to maintain or advance the project’s timeline.
• With these projects it is not uncommon to encounter water leaks from laterals connecting to the water main. These will be addressed accordingly as needed.
• Vehicular parking will not be permitted in the construction zone or adjacent to the tracks being reconstructed. Signs will be posted in advance.
• Exceptions/Arrangements will be made as required for those with special needs.
• Delivery vehicles will have limited access; drivers may have to park and carry parcels to a specific location.
• Pedestrian access will be arranged to apartments, residences, businesses, and medical facilities during construction.
• Check www.septa.org for travel information or call Customer Service at 215-580-7800.

BENEFITS

• Reduced vibrations – increased continuity with steel tie construction and increased bonding.
• New and improved track components – smoother ride for trolleys and vehicular traffic.
• New street surface – new concrete/asphalt paving and line painting once work is completed.