The Greater Philadelphia region is celebrating once again – this time the Villanova men’s basketball team’s third NCAA championship. On Thursday, April 5, the region will commemorate the Wildcats’ win with a parade in Center City from 20th and Market Streets to Dilworth Park, beginning at 11 am SEPTA has announced the following service adjustments for fans heading to the festivities and to accommodate the parade route.
Extra capacity will be added to SEPTA’s Norristown High Speed Line (NHSL), Market-Frankford Line (MFL) and Broad Street Line (BSL). The NHSL provides service from the Villanova University area with stops at Radnor and Villanova Stations (Please note Stadium Station is currently closed for renovations). NHSL passengers can transfer to the MFL at 69th Street Transportation Center to continue the trip to Center City.
Regional Rail is also an option for fans traveling to the parade, as SEPTA’s Paoli/Thorndale Line serves stations in Radnor, Villanova and Rosemont . Paoli/Thorndale Line trains operate approximately every 30 minutes. Schedule details are available at www.septa.org/schedules/rail/index.html.
Parade routing will impact SEPTA service through Center City. Bus Routes 2, 4, 7, 16, 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 44, 48, 62, 124 and 125 will be detoured around City Hall and Dilworth Park from approximately 9 am -3 pm. On Thursday. Complete detour information will be posted in the System Status section of www.septa.org.
SEPTA’s 15th Street MFL stations and the City Hall BSL station are scheduled to remain open during the parade; however, if conditions become overcrowded, those stations will be bypassed. Passengers should use 13th Street MFL and Walnut-Locust BSL stations in the event 15th and City Hall Stations are closed. Train announcements will be made and SEPTA personnel will be on-hand to direct passengers to the parade route. Passengers for Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 should look for service announcements regarding possible station closures.
SEPTA reminds all regular passengers that the commute, especially on the Paoli/Thorndale Line and NHSL, could be extremely heavy. SEPTA urges those using its trains, buses and trolleys for the parade to purchase their tickets and passes in advance. Details on all SEPTA fare options are available at www.septa.org/fares/.
SEPTA employee ambassadors wearing red jackets will be available at Center City and Villanova-area stations to assist travelers before and after the parade. For complete service updates and detours, as well as schedules, station maps and fare information, visit www.septa.org, call 215-580-7800, or follow SEPTA on Twitter at @SEPTA and @SEPTA_Social.