SEPTA will begin excavating and renewing broken trolley tracks on 42nd Street between Spruce Street and Woodland Avenue on March 17.
In a March 6 written statement, SEPTA — the primary public transportation authority serving Philadelphia — announced that the staging of the railing will begin this week, with the majority of the construction taking place from March 30, 2025 to May 31, 2025. According to the announcement, new railing will reduce vibrations along the track, allow for smoother rides and driving for trolleys and cars, and provide a newly paved and painted street surface once the project is completed.
The existing tracks will be replaced with a new rail that will be “encased in a rubber boot.” New trolley poles will also be placed next to existing poles in preparation for SEPTA’s Trolley Modernization project, which aims to improve the accessibility and speed of the trolley system.
SEPTA will close and reopen 42nd Street in “one-to-two block sections” while construction takes place, with completed sections reopening as work shifts to new areas. The intersections of 42nd and Spruce streets, 42nd and Baltimore streets, 42nd and Chester streets, and 42nd and Woodland Avenue will not be affected by the renewal efforts.
Parking will restricted in the construction zone, and signs will be posted to inform motorists of parking restrictions nearby. Traffic detours will also be posted by the construction site. Southbound motorists on 42nd Street should expect to be directed to use 44th Street, Baltimore Avenue, 43rd Street, Chester Avenue, and Woodland Avenue. Northbound motorists should expect to be directed to use Woodland Avenue, Chester Avenue, 43rd Street, and Spruce.
For trolley riders, Route 30 will be detoured while the rails are replaced. SEPTA recommended checking their Alerts and Detours page for travel information along this route.
Emergency vehicles, city utility services, and pedestrians will have access to areas within the construction zone. T1-T5 trolley lines will also continue to operate in the tunnel throughout the project.
Penn’s Division of Public Safety also issued a notice about the renewal project with the same information.
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