“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 interested in traffic safety issues, pedestrian advocacy, and want to do more for your community? Vision Zero Philadelphia is hiring 2026 Ambassadors. Learn more and apply for the role here!
6ABC: SEPTA resumes Regional Rail morning express service; Center City T-trolley tunnel reopens – Regional Rail and Trolley riders began their week with increased service, from the suburbs to Center City. The T-trolley tunnel reopened Monday morning, once again connecting Center City to neighborhoods and communities throughout West Philadelphia . The tunnel has been closed since Mid-November for emergency repairs, and will have overnight closures for further repairs in February. Regional Rail riders also felt improvements this week, with express service resuming from the suburbs to Center city. Service has been gradually returning after Silverliner railcars were pulled from service, inspected, and repaired.
The Inquirer: Keeping seniors fit in Philly takes a citywide effort | Expert Opinion – 20% of Philadelphia are age 60 or older, and the senior population in the city has been growing for the past decade. Drexel Professor and physical therapist notes the importance of movement for longevity and health. It’s beneficial for mental and physical health, but 30% of seniors in Philadelphia report difficulty with mobile activities, such as walking or climbing stairs. Philadelphia’s walkability and access to green spaces are positives for seniors, with 95% of all Philadelphia residents living within a 10 minute walk of a public park. However, parks tend to be smaller and lower-quality for low-income neighborhood residents. Access and funding for green spaces, public transportation, senior community centers, and other lifelines, are critical for the health of seniors across Philadelphia.
Fox Philadelphia: Girard Point Bridge overhaul begins: 5-year traffic impact in Philly – Construction has begun on the Girard Point Bridge. The renovation will take five years to complete, and drivers need to know PennDot’s plans. Three lanes of traffic can be expected, but lane restrictions will occur as well. These restrictions will be focused on nights and weekends, but riders can find alternative commuting options here. Phase 1 of construction begins in February, and long-term traffic patterns will be installed in July of this year.
Other Stories
WHYY: ‘Going to make my life much better’: SEPTA trolley riders react to tunnel reopening
CBS Philadelphia: Person with measles traveled through Philadelphia airport, 30th Street Station, health officials say
The Philadelphia Tribune: Visit Philly expecting 500,000 visitors for World Cup
Philadelphia.Today: New $11.5M Project Aims to Beautify Philadelphia in Preparation for 250th Birthday Celebrations
The Inquirer: We debated the best ways to snuff out bad SEPTA etiquette. The best advice came from you
The Travel: One Of America’s Most Beautiful Amtrak Stations Is Getting A Makeover
“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.
Happy 2026! Kick off the new year by following the Clean Air Council on Instagram, and check out our website.
BillyPenn: SEPTA expects Regional Rail crowding and delays to subside this month – After months of delays, crowded trains, and cancelled service, Regional Rail riders can expect relief, according to SEPTA. Inspections and repairs have been completed, and railcars are being put back into service. The current rate is about 8 repaired cars back into service every day. The increase in cars will cut down on the crowded conditions that commuters have been experiencing. SEPTA has also leased 10 coaches from Maryland’s transit system to fix the shortage during inspection and repairs. SEPTA is looking to purchase new railcars to upgrade and expand Regional Rail service, but the lack of funding in the State budget severely limits any improvements the agency can make.
WHYY: SEPTA says trolley wire replacements are done, estimates tunnel will reopen in ‘weeks’ – The trolley tunnel between Center City and West Philadelphia has been closed since November, and work is nearing completion, according to SEPTA last week. Wire replacements have been completed, but system testing is still ongoing, with estimates that the tunnel will reopen in mid-January. The longer repair times are due to the unique nature of the work. SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch noted that SEPTA is focused on returning service only when it’s tested and proven safe and reliable for public transit users.
NBC Philadelphia: SEPTA buses replace trains during construction along the Fox Chase Line – Starting Monday, January 5th, SEPTA riders on the Fox Chase Line will rely on bus service at the Fox Chase, Ryders, Cheltenham, Lawndale, and Olney stations. SEPTA crews will be installing new tracks on weekdays, from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Regional Rail service is expected to operate between Wayne Junction and Center City. Construction and bus service will be expected to continue through early April.
Other Stories
The Inquirer: SEPTA’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year
6ABC: Community-led Peace Patrol aims to boost safety on SEPTA
Fox Philadelphia: Philly’s red light cameras: $100 fines to start at Eakins Oval
Bicycle Coalition: 2025 Bike Count Summary Shows an Increase in Bicycle Trips
CBS Philadelphia: Atlantic City Expressway goes cashless as tolls rise for all drivers
“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.
Other Stories
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.
Enjoy the holiday weekend!
Philly Voice: 5 SEPTA trolley lines to halt Center City service for a month due to tunnel work – From 10 p.m. on Friday, July 11, to 6 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, Center City trolley service will be suspended on lines T1 through T5. The hiatus will give crews the chance to clean and perform maintenance and repairs, which reduces service outages throughout the year and improves general safety. During the break, trolleys will begin and end at 40th and Market Streets in West Philly.
NBC: Schedule changes, station closures coming for PATCO riders – Starting July 14, the PATCO line will temporarily reduce late night service, between 12 a.m. and 4:30 a. m. on Monday through Friday, in an effort to improve cleanliness and safety. Trains will run every two hours instead of every hour until September 1, when they will be fully suspended during late night hours. Stations will also close on a rotating basis for cleaning and maintenance; for a schedule of station closures, see here.
Other Stories
The Inquirer: SEPTA’s fare evasion crackdown is no joke. Ask the more than 3,200 people criminally charged this year.
KYW Radio: SEPTA ramps up efforts to curb fare evasion, ahead of service cuts
NBC 10: SEPTA to offer extra express services, late night trains on Independence Day
