SEPTA's Annual "Trolley Blitz" Will Take Place Between July 7th and July 24th, 2023

A SEPTA worker performing trolley track upkeep
Jun 27, 2023 10 months ago
Notes

Beginning at 10 PM on July 7th, SEPTA crews will work around the clock, tackling critical track and power maintenance, station upgrades, and intensive cleaning as part of the 2023 Trolley Tunnel Blitz. The work will conclude by Monday, July 24th at 5 AM. 

 

CHANGES TO SERVICE

  • TROLLEYS WILL NOT OPERATE IN THE TUNNEL AT ANY TIME DURING THE BLITZ
  • Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34, and 36 will temporarily divert to 40th & Market Streets
  • Trolley Route 13 will operate as a bus during the Trolley Blitz
  • Customers may transfer at 40th St. to the Market Frankford Line for service to/from Center City
    • Tents will be available as a temporary shelter for customers transferring from Trolleys/Market Frankford Line
    • For late-night travel, customers can transfer to Market-Frankford Line Night Owl Bus Service while this work takes place
  • Please look for signs posted at the 40th St. Portal and at stations for service information. Directional signage will help you navigate the system during the Blitz, with tips on how to access service during construction, station closures, and boarding information

STREET CLOSURE:  

  • A STRETCH OF WOODLAND AVENUE WILL BE CLOSED, IMPACTING ENTRY TO THE WOODLANDS
    • A stretch of Woodland Avenue immediately west of the gated entrance to The Woodlands (see map below) will be closed to vehicular traffic during the Blitz. During the Blitz, vehicles will only be able to enter the cemetery by traveling west on Woodland Avenue.
    • If you are driving or biking to The Woodlands from the west, you must divert to Baltimore Ave., then turn onto Woodland Ave. and approach the cemetery from the east, making a left turn to enter the gates.
    • Vehicular traffic coming from University Ave. will not be affected. Woodland Ave. will remain open to pedestrians.

 

 

HERE'S WHAT SEPTA IS DOING DURING THE 2023 BLITZ:

  • IN THE TRACK RIGHT-OF-WAY:
    • Demolish and rebuild the full length of the eastbound 22nd Street platform, rebuild entire track bed, and pour new concrete decking
    • Replace worn track curved rail at various locations. This helps to maintain safe operations along curved portions of the Tunnel; clean out/flush all pipes, drains, vent wells;
    • Replace 4 miles of overhead contact wire
    • Complete heavy maintenance on Ludlow Switch Test and maintenance work on entire Tunnel signal system

 

  • AT STATIONS:
    • Heavy cleaning, maintenance, and improvement campaign at all stations including painting, lighting, graffiti removal, drain and pipe cleaning

 

  • IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR CUSTOMERS DURING THE BLITZ
    • ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings and LOOK for signage posted at stations for boarding information. DO NOT enter areas that are gated or blocked off at any time. SEPTA is committed to providing YOU with a safe riding experience and environment

 

WHY IS THE BLITZ NEEDED? To give SEPTA forces the opportunity to tackle maintenance, track construction, station facility, and safety improvement work in a concentrated period of time reduces the number of late-night and weekend outages over the course of the year

On average, 700 vehicles operate through the five-mile Trolley Tunnel every day. As with previous Blitz campaigns starting in 2014, this work is scheduled during the summer when ridership is traditionally lower in an effort to impact the fewest number of regular customers.