SEPTA service on the West Trenton Line will go silent starting Thursday.
SEPTA announced Tuesday that the regional transit agency, one of the largest in the nation, will be reducing to a Lifeline Service Schedule.
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Already operating on a reduced service schedule, SEPTA said the further reduction in service is in an effort to operate “as much service as possible with our healthy and available employees.”
SEPTA will continue to operate Regional Rail service on the Trenton Line, which runs through the Levittown area, and the Warminster Line. The Doylestown Regional Rail Line will end service at Lansdale in Montgomery County. Five other lines outside of the county will be suspended and another shortened.
SEPTA also plans to limit bus and trolley routes to 60 core services. In cutting about half the routes, the agency will prioritize routes with access to essential services.
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Starting this week, SEPTA has asked all riders to wear masks or other facial coverings to protect both riders and operators. SEPTA workers who are customer facing are being issued masks.
“Our SEPTA employees have been incredible in ensuring we maintain essential service to provide access to hospitals, grocery stores and other life-sustaining services,” said SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards. “As this crisis continues, we are now experiencing what other transit agencies across the country already have – workforce shortages due to COVID-19-related absences.”
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In addition, access to rail stations will be limited. Officers from SEPTA police will engage customers to see if they are traveling for essential purposes.
“If you are not traveling to an essential job or for urgent personal business like a medical appointment, you need to stay home and help us preserve service and space for those who need it most,” Richards said. “Unfortunately, too many people are not cooperating with this request, and they are putting the health and lives of our essential customers and employees at risk.”
Richards said the service change is focused on providing access to hospitals, grocery stores, and other life-sustaining services.
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Previously, SEPTA reported major ticket revenue and passenger declines due to COVID-19.
Several SEPTA employees have tested positive for COVID-19 and three maintenance workers at city depots have died.
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SEPTA urged customers to check their website for updates.
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