Due to power, track and station improvement projects, SEPTA Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the Center City tunnel from 10 pm. On Friday, July 31 through 4 am on Monday, August 17. Trolley service will begin and end at 40th and Market Streets; trolleys will use their alternate diversion service routing to connect to SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line at 40th and Market Streets. Trolley passengers can board the Market-Frankford Line at 40th Street Station for travel to and from Center City, as the repair work will not affect that service.
This is the third consecutive summer SEPTA has held the Trolley Tunnel Blitz. During this year’s 16-day tunnel closure, SEPTA’s in-house Engineering, Maintenance & Construction Division crews will build on last year’s accomplishments and work around-the-clock on key maintenance and construction tasks to improve safety and service reliability.
“The Center City tunnel is a five-mile, single loop track operation that is used 24-hours a day, making it difficult for our crews to get productive work windows. Without the 16-day closure, we’d have months of nighttime and weekend shutdowns to complete all of the projects,” said SEPTA Deputy General Manager Jeff Knueppel.”The Trolley Tunnel Blitz allows us to maximize productivity during improvements projects while minimizing the period of inconvenience to passengers and communities we serve, especially because we hold the Blitz when our ridership is at its lowest.”
Members of SEPTA’s Track Department will replace almost 7,500 feet (more than one mile) of track on the westbound side of the tunnel between 22nd Street Station and the 40th Street Portal.
Other work that will be completed during the trolley closure includes: replacing eastbound protection board (a part of the system attaching overhead wire to the tunnel ceiling); making numerous station repairs and improvements, including renewed stairs and platforms at 13th and 19th Street Stations; continuing replacement of florescent lighting with high-efficiency LED lighting at all stations; installing additional LED lighting within the track area around the 13th Street Station curve; repairing and clearing track drains throughout the tunnel, reducing standing water; performing maintenance tasks including graffiti removal, tile repair, painting, drain clearing and heavy cleaning at all stations; and testing emergency generators and lighting throughout the tunnel.
SEPTA’s Trolley Tunnel Blitz is part of the authority’s “Rebuilding for the Future” (https://www.septa.org/rebuilding/right-of-way/2015-trolley-tunnel-blitz.html) capital program and funded through Pennsylvania Act 89. For more information, including Market-Frankford Line schedules, please contact SEPTA Customer Service at 215-580-7800 or visit www.septa.org.