El Shuttle Bus Service to Resume this Weekend

March 28, 2008

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTA will operate shuttle buses on the western portion of the Market-Frankford Line this weekend from 8 p.m. on Friday, March 28 until 5 a.m. on Monday, March 31.

The shuttle buses will take the place of regular train service between 69th Street Terminal and 40th & Market Streets due to the Market Street Elevated (MSE) Reconstruction project.

MSE, which was on hiatus for Easter weekend, is tentatively scheduled to operate shuttle bus service for the next six consecutive weekends with regular train service in effect during Mother’s Day weekend (May 9-11).

For riders traveling into Center City, the shuttle buses will leave 69th Street Terminal (69th & Market Streets) and travel on Chestnut Street from 63rd to 45th Streets, back to Market Street, and then to 40th Street Station where riders will transfer to the El.

From Center City, regular El service will operate to 40th Street Station, however, riders traveling beyond 40th Street will transfer to shuttle buses at 40th & Market Streets. Shuttle buses will leave 40th & Market Streets and continue on 40th Street to Walnut Street, Walnut Street to 63rd Street, and back on Market Street to 69th Street Terminal.

Shuttle buses will serve stops designated by the yellow and black “El Shuttle” signs located at the following streets: 40th & 44th (Market Street), 46th & Farragut, 48th, 52nd, 56th, 57th, 60th and 63rd (Walnut & Chestnut Streets) and at Sellers Avenue for Millbourne Station.

MSE is building a new Market-Frankford Line between 46th & Market Streets in West Philadelphia and Millbourne in Delaware County. It includes the reconstruction of elevated stations at 46th Street, 52nd Street, 56th Street, 60th Street, 63rd Street and Millbourne.

As a result of the project, riders are already enjoying new brightly lit, colorful and fully accessible stations at 56th Street and 60th Street. Riders will also find new elevators installed at 52nd Street Station beginning Monday, March 31.

The project is also replacing 11,000 feet of the elevated structure’s guideway with a new single column bent structure. This new single support column will dramatically improve the flow of traffic on Market Street following the completion of the project.

SEPTA’s Community Information Center is located at 5344 Chestnut Street and provides passengers, residents, and businesses with information regarding the project. The Center is open six days a week and is also accessible by telephone at 215-748-5700. Information on all SEPTA service is available online or by telephone at 215-580-7800.