SEPTA is preparing for a historic 2026 as our region prepares to host a lineup of major global and national events. It starts with NCAA March Madness on March 20 and continues this summer with FIFA World Cup matches, the MLB All-Star Game, and America’s 250th birthday celebration. Together these events are expected to draw millions of visitors and a significant number of public transit riders—placing SEPTA in the spotlight to get people to games and celebrations and everything the Philadelphia region has to offer.
Planning has been underway behind the scenes for a long time.
“SEPTA has been preparing for 2026 for over two years,” said SEPTA Chief Officer Control Center MaryAnn Tierney in the latest episode of the SEPTA Youth Advisory Council’s podcast Keeping Up With SEPTA. “Now 2026 is here and we have really geared up our planning in anticipation of all the amazing events that are going to happen.”
Tierney leads the team that oversees the 24/7 nerve center that monitors service across buses, trolleys, subways, and Regional Rail. Her team coordinates operations in real time, working closely with operations managers, field supervisors, Transit Police, and regional partners to keep service running safety and reliably especially during large-scale events.
The event calendar may be full but Tierney emphasized that SEPTA is no stranger to the big stage. In recent years SEPTA has hosted two Super Bowl parades, political conventions, and even a visit from the late Pope Francis.
“Philly and SEPTA are not new to the special event game,” she noted. “We have successfully managed large events for a very long time and we’re going to lean on all of that experience to make this summer a success.”
Early communication is a critical part of the strategy.
“One of our biggest takeaways is that we have to be communicating frequently and through all of our available channels so people can make their plans,” Tierney added.
Experienced leadership in the Control Center, proactive planning, extensive cross-agency coordination, and a continued focus on safety, reliability, and customer service are a few reasons why SEPTA is ready to deliver when the world comes to the Philadelphia region.
Check out the full interview with MaryAnn Tierney on Spotify to hear more about how SEPTA is preparing for 2026.