Potential Work Stoppage by City and Suburban Transit Division Workers Could Begin as Early as Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 19

Would Reduce SEPTA Service to Only Regional Rail and Limited Contract Service

A simultaneous work stoppage by both City and Suburban Transit Division employees could begin as soon as tomorrow, Tuesday, November 19 and would severely limit SEPTA service.  Only Regional Rail, Paratransit (CCT Connect/SEPTA Access), and contracted services like LUCY would operate. 

SEPTA’s current contracts with SMART 1594 and TWU 234 Victory – which represents more than 530 operators and mechanics at SEPTA’s Victory District – expires tonight, November 18 at 11:59 PM.  The current contract between SEPTA and TWU 234 Frontier – which represents more than 200 operators and mechanics at SEPTA’s Frontier District – expires at 11:59 PM on Saturday, November 23.  These follow the expiration of SEPTA’s contract with TWU 234 on November 7.

While strike authorization votes have been taken, those actions do not necessarily mean there will be a work stoppage when contracts expire.  SEPTA management and union leadership will continue productive, good faith negotiations to reach a fair agreement and avoid a work stoppage.

This is a changing situation, and SEPTA encourages customers to monitor the SEPTA website, social media platforms and local media outlets for updated information about what service will operate in the event of a work stoppage by one or both of the City and Suburban Transit Divisions.

Service Interruption Guide –  https://wwww.septa.org/news/service-interruption-information/

X / Twitter – @SEPTA | @SEPTA_Social | @SEPTANews | @SEPTAPHILLY

Facebook –  https://www.facebook.com/ISEPTAPHILLY/

Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/septaphilly/

Telephone –

·       Customer Service Call Center: 215-580-7800 (Para Información en Español llame al Luego marque el número 2)

·       CCT Customer Service: 215-580-7145

·       SEPTA Key: 855-567-3782

In the event of a simultaneous work stoppage by TWU 234 and SMART 1594, the following SEPTA services will not operate:

·       All City and Suburban Buses

·       Market-Frankford Line [L]

·       Broad Street Line [B]

·       City Trolleys [T] (10,11,13,15,34,36]

·       Suburban Trolleys [D] (Media-Sharon Hill – Routes 201/102)

·       Norristown High Speed Line [M]

Following are the only SEPTA services that will operate:

·       All 13 Regional Rail Lines

·       SEPTA Access (CCT Connect) – Paratransit and Senior Shared Ride

·       Contracted Services – LUCY (Loop through University City), Routes 310, 311, 204

All 13 Regional Rail Lines – Regional Rail service – including service to more than 50 stations in the City of Philadelphia – will operate on timetables posted on the Service Interruption Guide page. Additional trains will be added to some Lines and trains may make additional stops to accommodate anticipated ridership increases. Timetables and other information are posted at: https://wwww.septa.org/news/service-interruption-information/.

 LUCY (Loop through University City) – Green and Gold Loop service will operate regular routing from William H. Grey III 30^th Street Station to selected University City destinations.

 SEPTA Access (CCT Connect) – Regular service will operate for registered ADA and Shared Ride customers. Customers may experience some delays due to increased demand and local street traffic.

Travel Wallet: Key Cards can be loaded online at SEPTAKey.org, by contacting the Call Center at 855-567-3782 or from Fare Kiosk located at Center City Rail Stations and SEPTA Sales Offices and participating retailers.

Quick Trips: Valid on the day purchased for one-way travel on Regional Rail trains purchased from Fare Kiosks or Sales Offices and needed for entry to the paid area at the stations. Prices vary by zone.

Using Monthly/Weekly TransPass+ and Zone One TrailPass for Regional Rail travel within the City of Philadelphia: Monthly TransPass+ or Zone One (1) TrailPasses loaded on SEPTA Key Cards will be valid for travel at all times, to all Regional Rail stations within the City of Philadelphia (with the exception of Forest Hills and Somerton).

Special Note About Tapping: Unlike tapping once for travel on buses and subway, Regional Trail Train trips require customers to tap at the station where they board AND the station they exit. This prevents overpayment.

Transit Pass Redemption:  Unused TransPass+ passes, purchased before a service interruption, will be eligible for a full or partial refund. Customers should contact the Key Call Center at 855-567-3782 to request a refund for any unused or partially used Transit Passes.

** General fare information is available on SEPTA’s website at https://wwww.septa.org/fares/.  Per trip costs are based on Zone/Distance and will be charged to Key card account balance.

All service interruption information will posted on the Service Interruption Guide page on SEPTA’s website – https://wwww.septa.org/news/service-interruption-information/ – and will also be accessible through the SEPTA homepage https://www.septa.org.

SEPTA Customer Service – 215-580-7800 | @SEPTA_Social – will operate with extended hours. Please visit www.septa.org and follow local media outlets for additional news and service updates.

SEPTA Key Customer Service Call Center – 855-567-3782 – hours are: Weekdays 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM and Weekends 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

SEPTA Ambassadors will also be deployed to Regional Rail stations throughout the City to provide assistance and information to customers during the morning and evening commutes.

Parking is available at most SEPTA Regional Rail stations. Surface lots $2.00, Garages $4.00.

Changes to Evening Boarding at Center City Regional Rail Stations – SEPTA is alerting customers to changes to Regional Rail boarding that will be in place at Center City Regional Rail stations during evening travel hours, from 2:45 PM to 7:00 PM at William H. Gray III 30th Street, Suburban, Jefferson, Temple University and Penn Medicine stations.  Riders will be directed to wait in line at the concourse level to ensure safety and avoid overcrowding on platforms.

SEPTA’s budget relies on funding from Governor Shapiro’s proposed statewide transit funding proposal.   The Governor’s proposed $283 million annual statewide operating investment in public transportation, including $161 million for SEPTA, would be Pennsylvania’s largest transit funding increase in more than a decade.

The $922.8 million Capital Budget Proposal is part of an all-time high $14 billion 12-year Capital Program, enabling the largest-ever investments in improved safety, cleanliness, and security – supported by the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA). The proposal includes new full-length fare gates to reduce fare evasion and new cleaning equipment to support the expanded cleaning staff.

By the end of the 12-year program, all Broad Street Line [B], Market-Frankford Line [L], and Trolley trips will be through an accessible station – compared to 61% today. SEPTA continues to operate one of the oldest rail fleets in the country, and for the first time, this budget funds at least a partial replacement of each aging fleet. The Broad Street Line [B], Market-Frankford Line [L], and Trolley fleet replacements are all fully funded, while the Regional Railcar fleet replacement is partially funded.

There will be four public hearings on the Operating Budget and two public hearings on the Capital Budget. The SEPTA Board will consider the proposals at its June meeting. If approved, they will go into effect with the start of Fiscal Year 2025 on July 1.

Operating Budget Hearings:

• Monday, May 20 at 11:00 AM
• Monday, May 20 at 5:00 PM
• Tuesday, May 21 at 10:00 AM
• Tuesday, May 21 at 4:00 PM

Capital Budget Hearings:

• Tuesday, May 22 at 10:00 AM
• Tuesday, May 22 at 4:00 PM

The hearings will take place in-person at SEPTA Headquarters – 1234 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA  19107 – and virtually via WebEx.  Information on how to participate and submit comments is available online at https://wwww.septa.org/wp-content/uploads/board/public/FY2025-Budget-Hearing-Public-Notice.pdf

For the first time, the Authority’s Operating and Capital Budget Proposals are being presented as an integrated document on a modern web platform, which is ADA compliant to ensure that people with visual or hearing impairments can navigate SEPTA’s budget data.  Customers and members of the public are encouraged to review the budget information and participate in the public process.