“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 the Transit For All PA! campaign for sustainable transit funding to keep our state moving forward.
6ABC: SEPTA set to resume negotiations with its largest workers’ union – Transport Workers Union voted on Sunday to authorize a strike, but leaders note that a walkout is not expected. Around 5,000 bus, trolley, and subway workers have been working without a contract for two weeks, with negotiations beginning in October. Further discussions took place on Tuesday, with both sides calling the conversation productive.
NBC Philadelphia: SEPTA completes inspections of entire Silverliner IV fleet – As of this past weekend, SEPTA announced they completed the inspection of the Silverliner IV rail cars. All 223 cars have been examined, after a two week deadline extension was granted, and the agency is still working to meet a December 5 deadline to install heat sensors on trains. It will be another month before the entire fleet returns to service, with plans to return five rail cars per day to service.
The Inquirer: SEPTA trolley tunnel will stay closed until next week – The SEPTA trolley tunnel has been closed for the past two weeks, and will remain that way for a little while longer, according to SEPTA. While the tunnel is closed for repairs, trolleys are running out of West Philadelphia. The repairs are a result of two incidents in October, when over 400 passengers had to evacuate.
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BillyPenn: Here are all the details for the 2025 Marathon Weekend in Philly
The Inquirer: SEPTA workers authorized a strike for the fourth year in a row. Here’s when they walked off the job in the past.
BillyPenn: Design advocates call for transformation of Filbert Street bus terminal
Fox29 Philadelphia: Lower Merion Township considers first parking meter rate hike in 26 years
NBC Philadelphia: City Councilmember proposes new E-Bike and E-Scooter safety law for Wilmington
“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 the Transit For All PA campaign for sustainable transit funding to keep our state moving forward.
WHYY: SEPTA CEO calls Pennsylvania state budget ‘disappointing’ after transit funding left out – Pennsylvania lawmakers set a budget on Wednesday of this week, and mass transit was left out completely. State representatives seemed to sideline transit after SEPTA and Pittsburgh Regional Transit were forced to cover operating costs with reserve funds meant for capital projects and improvements. SEPTA is open to working with lawmakers for further funding, as without anything in the budget, they are left with a $213 million deficit.
NBC Philadelphia: SEPTA to lease trains from Maryland in effort to improve Regional Rail service – SEPTA’s delays continued this week, as railcars continue to be limited in capacity due to inspections, and signal issues exacerbated delays on Thursday. SEPTA announced they are leasing 10 rail cars from Maryland, for $2.6 million, to help alleviate delays. Funding for the lease comes from capital funds and has been approved by PennDOT. Future plans include the redesigning of the entire Silverliner IV fleet, but no funding sources have been named yet.
BillyPenn: Packed cars, cancellations, and delay headaches: Regional Rail riders should brace for a rough week – This week delays and cancellations continued for riders across SEPTA regional rail lines. On Monday, the Airport, Fox Chase, and Chestnut Hill West lines were announced to be canceled as advised by SEPTA. The Paoli/Thorndale, Lansdale/Doylestown, Trenton, and Warrington had cancellations as well. SEPTA is working to meet next week’s inspection deadline, an extension from the original deadline of October 31.
Other Stories
BillyPenn: Parker vows that, this time, Market East planning will succeed
The Inquirer: SEPTA Regional Rail service delayed, trains canceled due to ‘signal issues’
PhillyVoice: SEPTA nears deadline to finish Silverliner IV inspections
BillyPenn: Liberty Bell will reopen Thursday, flight disruptions may continue: Philly shutdown updates
