“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Are you in the Lehigh Valley area or the Lancaster area? Please take a transit survey from Transit For All PA, to help us better understand transit needs for users in the area. Lehigh Valley survey link and Lancaster area survey link.
Keep Paratransit and Shared-Ride moving by signing onto this organizational letter!
Philadelphia Tribune: Opposition builds against school district’s fare evasion program – The proposed fare evasion enforcement program tied to the School District of Philadelphia is being flagged as a system that unfairly punishes students, and could push them into the criminal justice system for just trying to get to school. Transit advocates warn that despite the intention to curb SEPTA revenue losses, this plan is not the best path forward. SEPTA student fare cards are extremely limited in their use, with restrictions based on geography, times of day, and not allowed at all on weekends or summer breaks. Advocates warn that the program will disproportionately target students of color and low-income families, and the solution is to expand transit access and education, rather than punishment.
NBC Philadelphia: SEPTA installs first real-time arrival display at South Philadelphia bus stop – Riders that take the bus at Broad and Oregon are the first to receive a real-time information display, as part of a pilot program by SEPTA. SEPTA said that 9 more devices are to be installed at bus stops and to T, G, D, and M Metro stations. The screens use solar power and e-paper technology, making them visible even in bright sun. They are small enough to be mounted on stop sign poles, and have a text-to-speech bubble, to help low-vision riders. SEPTA is asking for feedback from riders through https://wwww.septa.org/initiatives/better-bus/epaper/.
NBC Philadelphia: Philly’s annual Ride of Silence honors cyclists, calls for safer streets – On Wednesday night, cyclists met at City Hall for the 22nd annual Philly Ride of Silence to honor cyclists killed or injured. 15 cyclists have been killed by motorists in the Delaware Valley region this year alone. Cyclist advocate group Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has worked with lawmakers and the PPA to expand protected bike lanes, and ticket vehicles that idle in them. The PPA has issued close to 30,000 violations since the enforcement unit was created in 2023. Advocates hope to see further protections for cyclists and pedestrians throughout the city in the near future.
Other Stories
PhillyVoice: Uber escalates ad campaign against Mayor Parker’s $1-per-ride tax as vote looms
BillyPenn: Philly’s 100 Steps restored after a hasty gray paint job sparked outrage
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Those potholes in your street reveal a money problem for cities and states
PhillyVoice: New Hope Railroad now has scenic pedal-bike tours that wind along heritage tracks in Bucks County
The Inquirer: Philly’s airport just lost Spirit Airlines. Another low-cost airline is moving in.
Centre Daily Times: PennDOT highlights $212M in central PA projects. What’s happening in Centre County?
The Inquirer: All-electric Volvos now pull some of the famed tram cars on the Wildwoods boardwalk
Streetsblog USA: America Keeps Building Stadiums Like Transit Doesn’t Matter
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
BE SURE TO VOTE IN THE GENERAL PRIMARY ON MAY 19TH. Register to vote, request a mail-in ballot, and find your polling location here.
Are you in the Lehigh Valley area or the Lancaster area? Please take a transit survey from Transit For All PA!, to help us better understand transit needs for users in the area. Lehigh Valley survey link and Lancaster area survey link.
WHYY: SEPTA gives families and groups easier fare payment options by expanding multitap – The multitap feature on SEPTA is getting expanded on regional mass transit this season. Key card holders can opt-in to this feature, and users will be able to tap in up to five times. Now contactless payments will also work in a similar way, making it easier for one person to pay for up to 5 SEPTA tickets at once. This should streamline payment processes for tourists, during high-traffic days coming this summer. SEPTA also expects it to help with fare-evasion measures as well. These changes will be implemented and tested before the FIFA World Cup and America’s semiquincentennial this summer.
Philly Voice: Starting in June, Pa. drivers caught using cellphones will be fined $50 – The warning period of this law has been in effect since last year, and now fines of $50 will begin, but with typical court fees, the total could be closer to $200. State police issued over 1,200 warnings from June 2025 through March 2026. Distracted driving was a contributing factor to nearly 10,000 crashes in Pennsylvania, just in 2024. These crashes resulted in 49 deaths and over 6,000 injuries. This law coming into effect makes Pennsylvania one of 30 states that has banned drivers from using handheld electronic devices.
NBC Philadelphia: Inside PATCO’s new $19.4M control center in Lindenwold – Camden County is now home to the newly opened operations control center for PATCO. The new facility replaced the original control tower, which had been in service for more than 50 years. The control center is not seen by most commuters, but according to PATCO officials, the new facility will increase efficiency, safety, and problem solving response time. Dispatchers are able to track trains and respond to issues as they arrive, and oversee operations across the service area.
Other Stories
NBC Philadelphia: PATCO tests new tap-to-pay technology by installing 1 new fare gate per station
PhillyVoice: Cyclists may be banned from Route 55 in South Jersey under proposed regulation
SEPTA: SEPTA Launches Multi-Rider Feature for Contactless Payments
PhillyVoice: PPA to ban non-residents from parking near Lemon Hill to go to FIFA Fan Festival during World Cup
The Philadelphia Tribune: Asthma health disparities, pollution impact Black Philadelphians, leaders warn
Pittsburgh City Paper: Could private partnerships save Pennsylvania transit? Some state lawmakers think so
Fox 29: SEPTA adds extra Regional Rail trains for 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink
Franklin County Free Press: PennDOT Offers Free Motorcycle Safety Training for Pennsylvania Riders
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Celebrate Cobbs Creek Trails Day this Sunday, 4/26 from 10am to 2pm, at the park at Thomas Ave & Cobbs Creek Parkway north of Whitby Ave. More information and activities can be found here.
Are you interested in improving the health and built environment of Philadelphia? The Nutrition and Physical Activity Team in the Health Department of Philadelphia is hiring a Built Environment Coordinator, and a Community Health Infrastructure Coordinator. Click the links in the titles to learn more about these roles and their impact!
BillyPenn: Advocates push for around-the-clock access to public transit for kids in Philadelphia – Councilmember Rue Landau and Transit Forward Philly held a press conference for expanding the student fare program. The SEPTA card provided for students, the student fare program, is currently limited by distance, time of day, and days of the week. Limiting factors can include going to summer jobs, living too close to their school, and even involvement in sports. Advocates pointed out that universal access benefits kids, giving them opportunities in education, professional development, summer opportunities, and more.
PhillyVoice: PA Turnpike is testing a system that will warn drivers of slow traffic – Pennsylvania Turnpike drivers will be alerted of upcoming traffic jams, due to a pilot program that began this week. Drivers can expect two alerts, the first being an electronic sign about 2 miles away, and another screen alert placed about half a mile out from the slowdown. The pilot program is initially along the Northeast Extension of I-476, with review planned afterwards, to see if outward expansion would be beneficial.
The Inquirer (via MSN): Why city council is threatening to block Mayor Cherelle Parker’s ‘Uber tax’ if it doesn’t get its way on school closures – Philadelphia’s Board of Education has pushed the vote to cancel schools to April 30th, instead of this week as it was originally scheduled. During the past week, Philadelphia City Council members have pushed to delay the vote, as the facilities plans as written contain some concerning flaws. Mayor Parker introduced legislation that would add a $1-per-ride tax on services like Uber and Lyft to try and patch the Philadelphia School District’s budget. This tax would generate an estimated $50 million per year, but that would not offset the closures of several schools. Uber has also begun a public campaign to make clear that it will be passing along this tax directly to the rider.
Other Stories
City & State Pennsylvania: Ask the Experts: Local transit leaders mind the gaps
Pittsburghers For Public Transit: Transit is the Ticket to a Winning NFL Draft
The Inquirer: I-95 South exit ramp to Packer Avenue will be closed into May, disrupting traffic to sports complex
KYW News Radio: No tickets necessary: PATCO riders will soon be able to pay with credit cards or smart phones
Railway Age: Transit Briefs: San Diego MTS/NICTD, MDOT MTA, NJ Transit, Amtrak
WHYY: Reported crime on SEPTA continues to drop in 2026 after decade lows last year
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Join Transit Forward Philadelphia for events and actions to fight for transit funding and other wins in the City Budget. Attend City Council Budget Hearings, and learn how to advocate with Transit Forward Philadelphia.
Are you interested in improving the health and built environment of Philadelphia? The Nutrition and Physical Activity Team in the Health Department of Philadelphia is hiring a Built Environment Coordinator, and a Community Health Infrastructure Coordinator. Click the links in the titles to learn more about these roles and their impact!
BillyPenn: ‘Pop-up concrete’ event shows what bike lane protection on Spruce and Pine could be – Philly Bike Action (PBA) members set up their ideal bike lane protections, eight-in tall concrete barriers. Models made of cardboard were placed out on Spruce and Pine on Saturday, along with four pop-up stands, handing out coffee and pretzels for free, as well as information about safety improvements. The event’s goal was to highlight what proposed safety measures would look like and dispel common misunderstandings of cyclist and pedestrian safety initiatives.
The Inquirer: SEPTA will keep $2.90 fare for World Cup transit rides. Boston is charging $80 – There is no plan to increase the base fare of $2.90 for SEPTA riders on the Broad Street Line to Lincoln Financial Field for World Cup matches. This is different from other World Cup host cities in the United States. NJ Transit will be charging over $100 for the 18-mile train ride from NY Penn Station to NJ Meadowlands. Boston transit will be increasing its prices from $20 to $80. SEPTA will be handling demand by operating extra trains to support sports complex lines, but regular service hours and open stations can be expected. Additional buses are also being dispatched to serve the FIFA Fan Festival in East Fairmount Park from mid-June through mid-July.
The Philadelphia Tribune: SEPTA reports progress on crime, need for capital funding – SEPTA reported on Wednesday that the system has seen 51 consecutive months of rider growth. They also reported crime is down 30% for the first quarter of 2026, and fare evasion dropped 37%. Over the next decade, billions in improvements are planned, including new fleets for the Market-Frankford Line, trolleys, and regional rail lines. The New Bus Network will streamline bus service across the city, and these changes will result in 660 service hours to the system.
Other Stories
NBC: PennDOT crews to repair potholes on more than 35 highways in Philly region
PhillyVoice: NJ Transit unveils first of 40 new train cars expected to enter service this year
The Inquirer via MSN: Waymo robotaxis are helping cities map potholes. Could Philly be next?
PhillyVoice: Speed cameras activated on stretch of Route 13 in Northeast Philly
The Inquirer: Comcast Spectacor reveals new location for Sixers and Flyers arena
Amtrak Media: Amtrak Joins SEPTA to Celebrate Completion of Ardmore Station Improvements
NBC Philadelphia: SEPTA Transit Police welcoming four new K-9 recruits this spring
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Join Transit Forward Philadelphia for events and actions to fight for transit funding and other wins in the City Budget. Attend City Council Budget Hearings, and learn how to advocate with Transit Forward Philadelphia.
Are you interested in improving the health and built environment of Philadelphia? The Nutrition and Physical Activity Team in the Health Department of Philadelphia is hiring a Built Environment Coordinator, and a Community Health Infrastructure Coordinator. Click the links in the titles to learn more about these roles and their impact!
The Inquirer: SEPTA wants to buy 247 new buses and install more fare evasion gates as part of proposed budget – SEPTA’s $1.84 billion operating budget for fiscal 2027 will be released next week. The budget represents only a 1.9% increase, despite rising inflation and labor costs. Compared to last fiscal year, riders will be pleased to see no service cuts and no fare increases. This is because of the state executive branch shifting funds around, after SEPTA was ignored in the state budget set by the legislative branch last season. Plans include a robust station cleaning program, new Transit Police officers, 247 new buses, and more evasion-resistant gates. Public hearings on the SEPTA budget will be held both at SEPTA headquarters and on Zoom, on 5/11, 5/12, and 5/13.
BillyPenn: ‘Just too onerous’: Getting bicycle racks in Philly should be simpler, advocates say – The current process of permitting and installing bike racks throughout Philadelphia is complicated, with too many requirements, according to members of the Philly Bike Action (PBA) group. About one-third of submitted bike rack applications were actually built from 2014 to 2024. Applications for bike racks have rigorous requirements, mostly due to right-of-way spacing rules, along with a $125 fee to apply. Right-of-way rules ensure sidewalks have an appropriate amount of space for pedestrians to move freely and for emergency responders to access spaces. The application also requires a site plan, which needs approval or to be provided by a state-licensed design professional. Philly could learn from other cities to streamline this process and encourage cycling throughout the city.
The Philadelphia Citizen: The Other Way Mayor Parker is Stepping Up for Transit – The H.O.M.E. bills introduced by the Mayor try to address a key factor in supporting public transit, land use rules surrounding stations. The bill aims to allow more multifamily buildings to be constructed near transit. Zoning changes include increasing unit density by 50%, adding one story of height, and cutting parking requirements by half. The current bill would also expand the law to increase from 500 feet to a quarter-mile radius from selected SEPTA stops. These changes emulate similar bills in comparable cities, Seattle, Chicago, and Austin, but are still a much smaller change in allowances.
Other Stories
Philadelphia City Council: City Council wants to hear from you! – Survey
6ABC: All security checkpoints reopened at Philadelphia International Airport
6ABC: ICE agents leaving Philadelphia International Airport
WTAE: Pittsburgh Regional Transit holding public meeting this week on Bus Line Refresh
SEPTA: Bus Service to Replace Trains Between Wilmington Station and Claymont Transit Center, Apr. 11-12
Bicycle Coalition: Remembering Teddy Einstein: A United Community Calls for Safer State Roads in the Region
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Join Transit Forward Philadelphia for events and actions to fight for transit funding and other wins in the City Budget. Attend City Council Budget Hearings, and learn how to advocate with Transit Forward Philadelphia.
Are you interested in improving the health and built environment of Philadelphia? The Nutrition and Physical Activity Team in the Health Department of Philadelphia is hiring a Built Environment Coordinator, and a Community Health Infrastructure Coordinator. Click the links in the titles to learn more about these roles and their impact!
NBC Philadelphia: Illegal parkers face new fines as warning period ends for SEPTA trolley cameras – SEPTA trolley cameras announced earlier this year started issuing tickets this week. Cameras on trolleys serving lines T1 through T5, and G1, will issue tickets to illegally parked vehicles, with a $51 fine. The cameras are powered by AI, but are reviewed by PPA employees before tickets are issued. This expands on a similar program on over 150 SEPTA buses, which was launched last year, and has issued over 112,000 tickets.
BillyPenn: SEPTA aims to increase reliability with 24 new Canadian coach cars – SEPTA has purchased 24 new coach cars from Exo for their fleet. Exo runs the public transportation system in Montreal. SEPTA aims to increase capacity for riders, to offer more reliability in service. The purchase was paid for from the over $200 million awarded, to help SEPTA fix its aging train. The railcars are expected to be phased into service later this spring.
SEPTA: SEPTA to Begin Major Rehabilitation Project Along M Line – The Norristown High Speed Line, also known as the M, will be getting major improvements over the next few months. Structural repairs will be made to the Bridgeport Viaduct, and bus service will replace the train between Bridgeport Station and Norristown Transit Center until May 9th. The project is estimated to cost around $55 million and is expected to take around one year to complete.
Other Stories
BillyPenn: Mayor Parker’s ‘pothole squads’ would be funded by proposed 25-cent delivery tax
BillyPenn: SEPTA launches publicity blitz ahead of bus network overhaul
6ABC: Gas prices top $4 nationally and in Philadelphia for first time since 2022
City & State Pennsylvania: Q&A with SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer
Bicycle Coalition: Bike Explorers Kicks Off Spring Season at Lewis Elkins Elementary
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Follow Transit Forward Philadelphia for events and actions to fight for transit funding.
Transit Forward Philadelphia: SEPTA Has Released the New Bus Network Plan – Here’s What You Need to Know – SEPTA announced this month that a total bus system redesign will begin, with changes starting in August 2026. The redesign will include adjustments to routes and schedules, with changes needing to be communicated via social media and physical announcements at transit stops, on buses, etc. Service improvements will be funded with efficiencies created by the system itself. Setting up a source of sustainable funding will also avoid future fiscal cliffs or uncertainty. Some changes are being celebrated by transit advocates, while some adjustments are leaving riders with longer travel times and more transfers needed for routes. Public feedback and communication from SEPTA are both critical for the New Bus Network Plan’s success, and there will be a public open house on April 15th.
BillyPenn: New digital SEPTA displays will bring real-time information to riders – This spring should see live updates for riders on some bus and trolley lines, according to SEPTA. SEPTA’s new pilot program puts 10 “e-paper” displays live on bus or trolley stop poles. The devices will be small enough to be mounted on bus or trolley stop poles, and will use solar power. These are part of a larger initiative to modernize and simplify SEPTA service. Riders can expect to see them at sunny bus and trolley stops in May.
NBC Philadelphia: Philly Love Run Half Marathon and 7k: Closures, parking and SEPTA changes – This Sunday, the Saucony Philly Love Run Half Marathon and 7k will attract more than 15,000 runners to Center City. Street closures at and around the Museum of Art will be in place from 3:00 am until around 1:00 pm on Sunday, 3/29. Parking restrictions will also be in place. Several bus routes will also be detoured on Saturday and Sunday of this weekend, in the Center City and Old City areas. Live detour and route updates will be posted on SEPTA’s website.
Other Stories
WHYY: Philadelphia No Kings protest 2026: what to know
City & State Pennsylvania: As TSA staffing crisis deepens, Philadelphia International Airport lines get worse
6ABC: Uber Eats debuts autonomous sidewalk delivery robots in Philadelphia
WBNG (Harrisburg, PA): PennDOT seeks feedback related to winter services
Metro Magazine: Amtrak Sets New Course for Long-Distance Fleet Renewal
Bicycle Coalition: Learnings from the 2026 Vision Zero PHL Conference
SEPTA: Bus Service to Replace Trains Bridgeport Station to Norristown Transit Center, Mar. 29 – May 9
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Follow Transit Forward Philadelphia for events and actions to fight for transit funding.
City & State Pennsylvania: Philadelphia’s Open Streets report reveals massive benefits carless events have for Center City businesses – Center City District closed streets to vehicular traffic, in favor of family-friendly foot traffic, and saw wild success last year. An overview of the Open Streets program was published last week by Center City District. Affected streets had a 27% increase in pedestrian activity, and participating businesses had a 38% increase in sales. The success of the 2024-2025 season has shifted the discussion from introducing the program to expanding it, and possibly making it a permanent fixture of Philadelphia.
The Inquirer via MSN: Uber says rides in Philly would cost you more under Mayor Parker’s budget plan – Philadelphia’s $7 billion city budget plan was released last week, and a 20-cent fee per ride was introduced for services such as Uber and Lyft. Another fee was proposed for online retailers. Both proposed fees need approval from the city council before implementation. The fees would bring in an estimated $9 million a year, which would be designated for school districts. Uber has stated that this fee will be passed directly to riders. Other fees proposed in the budget include another 2% in sales tax for online purchases, and all must be approved by either City Council or state lawmakers. The budget will have several public hearings with negotiations, and a final version is expected to be approved in June.
NBC Philadelphia: Frankford Avenue Bridge to shutter until 2027 for a $10M rehab project – The Frankford Avenue Bridge is now closed, and PennDOT will begin construction through next year. The $10 million rehab project will repair the 123-year-old bridge over the Frankford Creek. Frankford Avenue will be closed and detoured between Torresdale Avenue and Hunting Park Avenue at all times until Monday, March 22nd, 2027. PennDOT told drivers to expect extra time for their drive as traffic would occur. The bridge was found in poor condition, and over 12,000 vehicles pass over the creek daily, making repairs a priority. The inactive trolley lines currently on the structure are not planned to be brought back.
Other Stories
Transit Forward Philadelphia: 500 Days to Save SEPTA – Here’s How We Start
WHYY: 2 more security checkpoints to be temporarily closed at Philadelphia International Airport
Pittsburgh Patch: New Pittsburgh Airport Transportation System Proposed
Philadelphia Today: Northeast Philadelphia Airport Set for Upgrades After Receiving $1.4M in Federal Funding
6ABC: Market Street ramp to I-95 South reopens after yearlong closure
PhillyVoice: As Americans pay more at the pump, how do gas prices in Pa. and N.J. compare with the rest of the U.S.?
BillyPenn: Women in cycling: How one Philadelphia woman paved the way
SEPTA: Transit Employee Appreciation Day
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Follow Transit Forward Philadelphia for events and actions to fight for transit funding.
The Inquirer: Remember SEPTA’s plan to redo bus routes? It’s back and it’s happening (for real this time) – Over the next 18 months, SEPTA will implement the redesigned bus network that was shelved last year. The route revisions are mostly the same as what the SEPTA board approved in May 2024, with the full list found here. Changes will be implemented in phases, after the board votes on the plan in May. Over the 18 months, 18 bus routes will be cut, some routes will have increased frequency, and no bus stops will be moved.
City of Philadelphia: City Announces Road Closures, Parking Restrictions and Other Details for the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade – The city has announced road closures following the parade route. The parade begins at 11:15 AM on March 17th, starting at 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard. The following SEPTA bus lines will be detoured: 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 44, 47, 48, 61, 124 and 125. Parking restrictions will also be in effect. Attendees of the parade are strongly encouraged to take public transportation to and from the event.
WHYY: SEPTA riders rally at City Hall to preserve free-ride programs in new budget – Groups and representatives from across Philadelphia gathered at City Hall last week, to advocate for two programs funded by the City. The Zero Fare program funds SEPTA cards for almost 70,000 Philadelphians, and the Municipal Key Advantage Program also provides transit for around 13,000 city workers. Speakers included transit advocates, union leaders, council representatives, and zero fare recipients. Transit access is critical for access to healthcare, education, jobs, and community, especially for the recipients of zero fare, who are the most vulnerable. The city spends about $9 million on the Key Advantage Program and Zero Fare adds another $20 million, and Philadelphia’s operating budget for fiscal year 2026 is around $6.84 billion. The programs were included in the budget as announced by the mayor on March 12th.
Other Stories
City & State Pennsylvania: Philly Mayor Parker’s $7B budget – by the numbers
PhillyVoice: Security checkpoint at Philly airport closed due to TSA staffing shortages
Philadelphia Today: A Decade In, How Far is Philadelphia From Its Vision Zero Goal of Eliminating Traffic Deaths By 2030?
PhillyVoice: Center City expands Open Streets program to 20 car-free days this year
SEPTA: St. Patrick’s Day Parade Bus Detours, March 15
BillyPenn: Philly’s bus station needs a permanent home; questions loom about Filbert Street, ICE office, Amtrak
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Save the SEPTA Zero Fare Program! Follow Transit Forward Philadelphia for events and actions to fight for this program.
The Inquirer: SEPTA trolleys will use AI cameras to catch drivers breaking no-parking rules in Philly – Starting this week, cars parked illegally in the SEPTA trolley lanes will be issued tickets from automated enforcement cameras. 30 trolleys across six lines will be getting AI-camera systems installed to issue those tickets. Violations will result in a mailed warning until April 1st, afterwards there will be a $51 ticket. This program is in addition to the 152 SEPTA buses with AI-powered cameras issuing tickets for parking in bus lanes which began last year. Trolleys cannot go off track to avoid illegally parked cars, they result in delays to service, and hours of delays total.
BillyPenn: 30th Street a popular option for Philly’s future intercity bus station – Three potential sites are being evaluated by the City of Philadelphia to build a permanent bus terminal for Greyhound and other intercity carriers. The old Filbert St. site near Chinatown will soon house intercity bus pick up and drop off, with plans to reopen in May. The lease on that site will end in 10 years, with extensions only available for 5 additional years. The sites being evaluated would be a permanent home, and owned by the City. The most popular option at a public meeting last week was the 30th St Station. Wednesday’s open house was a crucial first step for this plan, with plans for more public meetings later this year. An online survey is also available and seeking feedback.
PhillyVoice: SEPTA gets $5.5 million in federal funding to enhance World Cup service – The Federal Transit Administration is awarding the 11 host cities of the World Cup funds to run service and make improvements ahead of the six games scheduled for Lincoln Financial Field. SEPTA is getting around $5.5 million to assist with expenses for the World Cup and other 2026 events. The estimated cost to increase service this summer is expected to be around $21.5 million. SEPTA typically adds 10 extra trips to the Broad Street Line schedule before and after Eagles games, and will probably do the same for World Cup matches. FIFA FanFest is a five week festival at Lemon Hill taking place this summer, and along with the nation’s 250th anniversary, SEPTA will be operating at a much larger capacity. These funds support the operational budget, which has been underfunded for years due to lack of state support.
Other Stories
Pittsburgh Regional Transit: Bus Line Refresh
The Inquirer: Mayor Parker backs legislation to boost housing development around SEPTA stations
PhillyVoice: Waymo is tweaking its self-driving car tech to navigate in heavy snowfall
Philadelphia Today: PA’s Anniversary License Plates Confuse Toll Readers, Sending Out Wrong Bills
The Inquirer: SEPTA chief gets a three-year contract at $395,000 a year
SEPTA: SEPTA Ended Key Tix Sales; Riders Must Use Tickets within 180 Days of Purchase
