SEPTA Shuttle Buses to Continue Replacing El Train Service During the Upcoming Weekends

Regular El Train Service Will Operate During July 4th Weekend Festivities

June 15, 2006

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Weekend service on the western portion of the Market-Frankford Line will continue to operate with shuttle buses during three of the next four weekends due to the extensive Market Street Elevated Reconstruction Project (MSE).

The shuttle buses are scheduled to replace train service on the weekends of June 16-18, June 23-25, and July 7-9 beginning at 8 p.m. on Fridays through 5 a.m. on Mondays.

SEPTA will operate regular El service during Independence Day weekend (June 30-July 2) for spectators traveling to Welcome America festivities.

During weekends of construction, SEPTA will use shuttle buses in place of trains between 69th Street Terminal and 40th Street Station. As a reminder, all El train service is bypassing 60th Street Station, which closed on June 2 for approximately one year due to reconstruction. 

For riders using the Market-Frankford Line to travel into Center City this weekend, 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 46th Street Station. Riders traveling beyond 46th Street will transfer to shuttle buses at 40th Street Station. 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 make stops on Chestnut and Walnut Streets at 46th, 52nd, 56th, 60th, 63rd Streets and Millbourne Avenue. Market-Frankford Line trains will continue to operate about every 10 to 15 minutes between 46th Street Station and Frankford Transportation Center during the weekend.

During El weekend shutdowns, SEPTA bus Route 46 will be detoured along 58th and 59th Streets so riders can transfer to the El shuttle bus at 60th Street on Chestnut and Walnut Streets. Market-Frankford Line trains will continue to operate about every 10 to 15 minutes between 46th Street Station and Frankford Transportation Center during the weekend.

The MSE project is one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken by SEPTA. It includes six new stations and a new single-column support structure for the El between 46th Street in West Philadelphia and Millbourne Station in eastern Delaware County.

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.