Philadelphia prepares for life with less SEPTA service
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Commuters begin navigating severe SEPTA service cuts on Monday.
Why it matters: Philadelphia officials have few options to make up for the 20% reduction in service, so prepare for travel disruptions across the region.
- Plus: Monday is the first day of school for the roughly 52,000 Philly School District students who use the transit system.
State of play: The Parker administration will boost staffing starting Monday to monitor road traffic, adjust signal timing, and more quickly respond to power outages and repairs, per the city's website.
- The city is also limiting closures on major roadways, and delaying permitted street work until after 9am.
- And the city's response and planning may be adjusted based on driving and parking trends, Sharon Gallagher, a spokesperson for the city managing director's office, tells Axios.
🚨 Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) will increase certain enforcement, with a focus on North Broad Street.
- 🅿️ The PPA is also considering pop-up parking on vacant lots near transit stops in outlying areas of the city.
- Any potential new parking areas can be found on the ParkMobile App.
- Existing parking options near transit stops can be found here.
As for SEPTA, it's stationing guides at transit hubs to assist riders with any questions.
What they're saying: The city and region's transportation network is significantly more fragile with less SEPTA service, Gallagher says.
☝️ You've been warned: Using SEPTA will likely mean longer waits and more crowded vehicles.
- Overall, transportation disruptions could be longer and more severe.
- Avoid driving in or around Center City, especially during rush hour..
Alternate commuting options include:
What's next: SEPTA will hike fares by 21.5% on average for all riders on Sept. 1.