SEPTA is getting ready for winter weather and all the unexpected conditions that come along with this time of year. SEPTA frontline crews are making the necessary preparations to ensure that all transportation modes remain safe for riders, and customer communications procedures and protocols are being updated to ensure more timely delivery of service status information.
Enhanced Communication
SEPTA is addressing how it communicates with riders and the public during extreme weather events. While crews in the field move quickly to clear downed trees and help maintain safe travel, new measures are being implemented to improve communication of real-time information that customers need to plan their travel and respond to severe weather. This includes ensuring that staff in the field are providing customers with the latest details, along with announcements and updates online.
The SEPTA App is a great resource for customers making their travel plans or adjusting to inclement weather. The SEPTA App received major upgrades earlier this month. The new and improved app allows customers to get real-time travel updates, plan trips, manage their Key Cards, and connect with Customer Service and Transit Police, all in one place. The App is available for download from the App Store or Google Play. Full details on new features, how to download and how to provide feedback is available at https://wwww.septa.org/app/.
Customers should also bookmark the SEPTA website – https://www.septa.org/ – and follow SEPTA’s social media accounts for real time communication on SEPTA service and other information. The full listing of official SEPTA social media accounts is available at https://wwww.septa.org/customer-service/social-media/
Here’s what customers can expect by mode:
Regional Rail:
Frozen switches and ice on overhead wires or the electrical poles on top of rail cars can delay or shut down Regional Rail service.
Maintenance crews work to keep the corridor between Center City Philadelphia and Lansdale open so SEPTA can continue to provide service on the main branch if frozen switches prevent trains from operating on other lines.
Amtrak owns the tracks on which the Wilmington/Newark, Paoli/Thorndale, and Trenton Lines operate. SEPTA works with Amtrak to resolve weather-related problems.
Broad Street & Market-Frankford Lines:
The Broad Street Line [B] and Market-Frankford Line [L] are best bets for riders during severe winter storms.
SEPTA keeps the cars ready for service by storing them overnight in tunnels and maintenance car houses. Crews are assigned to keep station entrances, platforms and sidewalks clean of ice and snow.
Bus Routes & Trolley Lines:
During a winter snow or ice emergency, SEPTA will attempt to operate all bus service, although a large number of routes may be detoured. We try to maintain service without detours on our most heavily used routes, which generally operate over streets that have been given a high priority for snow removal.
SEPTA ACCESS (formerly CCT Connect):
Depending on road conditions, full CCT service may be provided in some areas, while limited or no service may be provided in others.
During extreme weather conditions when CCT service is suspended, every effort will be made to continue service for kidney dialysis and other urgent, critically-needed medical treatment.
Weather Preparation and Clearing for Regional Rail:
SEPTA has a program in place for weather preparations as well as clearing parking lots and platforms at SEPTA’s Regional Rail stations. An in-house “Snow Team” monitors weather forecasts and conditions to determine the best time to send out our internal and contractor forces. Generally, snow removal starts when the snow stops. But with a service area covering 2200 square miles, the exact time may vary depending on conditions.
SEPTA uses third-party contractors for platform and parking lot snow removal and salting at all Regional Rail stations. Each contractor is responsible for eight to 10 stations. Once they go out it will take some time to get all stations cleared. SEPTA maintenance forces may also be deployed, in advance of the contractor’s arrival, to clear steps and walkways.