SEPTA's Summer Trolley Tunnel Blitz Returns: How to Get Around

SEPTA is taking steps to make riders' commutes more pleasant on its trolley lines.

SEPTA announced Wednesday that crews will begin their 10th annual summer Trolley Tunnel Blitz Friday night.

For 16 days, from 10 p.m. Friday, July 8, through 5 a.m. Monday, July 25, crews will work around-the-clock on track and power maintenance, station upgrades and intensive cleaning, a SEPTA spokesperson said in a news release.

“The Trolley Tunnel is critical to our daily operations, providing thousands of passenger trips underneath heavily congested roadways connecting Center City and University City,” SEPTA General Manager and CEO Leslie Richards said in a news release.

How to Get Around?

SEPTA trolley routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the Center City tunnel during the blitz.

Trolley service will begin and end at 40th and Market Streets.

Customers can use SEPTA's Market Frankford Line at 40th Street Station to get to-and-from Center City.

What Will Crews Be Doing?

• Demolish and rebuild the full length of the eastbound 22^nd Street platform, rebuild entire track bed, and pour new concrete decking
• Replace worn track curved rail at various locations
• Clean out and flush all pipes, drains, and vent wells
• Replace four miles of overhead contact wire
• Complete maintenance on Ludlow Switch
• Perform work on entire tunnel signal system
• Conduct heavy cleaning and maintenance at all stations including painting, lighting, graffiti removal and drain and pipe cleaning

Updates for the project can be found on SEPTA's website and on Twitter @SEPTA.