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Home > News > SEPTA Launches Modernization Project on Trolley Routes 101/102

SEPTA Launches Modernization Project on Trolley Routes 101/102

SEPTA Launches Modernization Project on Trolley Routes 101/102

Buses Replace Trolleys for 12 Weeks: June 15 through September 6, 2015

Category: Press Releases
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SEPTA will begin a modernization project on its Route 101/102 (Media/Sharon Hill) trolley lines on Monday, June 15, 2015. Buses will be used in place of trolleys for the entire routes of both lines from June 15 through September 6.

At 69th Street Transportation Center, all buses for Route 101/102 service will arrive and depart from the South Terminal, located at the front of 69th Street Transportation Center along Market Street. Some weekday Route 101 trips to and from Media Station will begin and end at Woodland Avenue Trolley Station. Customers who ride the Route 101 should plan to add 15-to-20 minutes of additional travel time to their trips. Customers who ride the Route 102 should plan to add 10-to-15 minutes to their trips. During the bus substitution, many current Route 101 and 102 trolley stops will be relocated to accommodate buses. For a list of the temporary bus stops, visit https://www.septa.org/alert/pdf/2015-06-101-102-brochure.pdf.

“With the closure and fast-tracked rebuilding of the West Terminal at 69th Street Transportation Center, the Routes 101 and 102 trolleys are not able to board passengers at their regular loading area and are being replaced with buses for the summer,” said SEPTA Deputy General Manager Jeff Knueppel.”We are taking advantage of the trolley substitution to complete many projects that would otherwise result in on-going major service interruptions over a longer period of time. The work we are doing on the Media and Sharon Hill lines will allow us to better serve our Delaware County customers.”

The Media-Sharon Hill Line is comprised of three parts: the trunk from 69th Street Transportation Center to Drexel Hill Junction (Shadeland Avenue) used by both Route 101 and 102; stops from Huey Avenue to Media used by Route 101; and stops from Garrettford to Sharon Hill used by Route 102. During the 12-week summer trolley shutdown, 16 SEPTA in-house and third party contractor groups will work on a variety of projects on all three portions of the line. The work schedule will typically be Monday-Saturday, from 7 am-7 pm

Work taking place includes:

  • Grade crossing renewals, track replacement and surfacing and replacement of wood bridge ties/timbers and walkway;
  • General bridge structure repairs and maintenance;
  • Replacement of overhead trolley wire;
  • Vegetation clearing and tree trimming;
  • Installation of new trolley wire support structures in select locations;
  • Repairing or replacement of retaining walls at Drexeline and Springfield Mall Stations;
  • Replacement of drainage pipe and repairing drainage trench at Springfield Mall Station;
  • Grade crossing warning device improvements at seven locations: MacDade Boulevard, Andrews Avenue, Bartram Avenue, Chestnut Street, Walnut Street, Broad Street and Spruce Street.

On the Route 101, superstructure replacement and substructure repairs will be made to the Whiskey Run Bridge (between Springfield Mall and Paper Mill Road Stations).

In Collingdale, Clifton Heights and Aldan, SEPTA will replace Route 102 rails and concrete roadway and repave the parking lanes on both sides of the street along Woodlawn Avenue and Springfield Road between North Street and West Madison Avenue. SEPTA will also install rubber rail boots around the new rails to lessen vibration and noise. The last time the trolley track and roadway was replaced in this area was 1983. The work will be completed in 10 phases over the 12-week period, with rolling street closures along the construction zones. During the project, the work zone area will be completely closed to through traffic, with the exception of emergency vehicles and construction vehicles. Residents within the construction zones will not be able to access their driveways; however, the rolling street closures are designed to minimize the number of days any driveways are blocked.

SEPTA will also use the shutdown to begin the early action phase of installing a new state-of-the-art Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) system. “The CBTC system utilizes radio communications between the vehicles and the signal system to improve safety,” said Knueppel. “CBTC automatically prevents collisions between trolleys by enforcing safe stopping distances. The system also prevents trolleys from exceeding established speed limits.” The CBTC system is scheduled to be completed by summer 2018 and will also include upgraded track crossovers for improved reliability and operational flexibility. The early action phase will begin with the replacement of certain track crossovers at Drexel Hill Junction.

Total costs for the Routes 101/102 Trolley Modernization Project is $100.60 million. The work is part of SEPTA’s “Rebuilding for the Future” capital program and funded through Pennsylvania Act 89. This is one of many improvements projects SEPTA is currently undertaking or has planned for Delaware County. Other Delaware County projects include improvements to Media/Elwyn Regional Rail Line Stations, bridges and substations; Media/Elwyn Line catenary wire replacement; restoration of Regional Rail service to Wawa; and the 69th Street Transportation Center West Terminal reconstruction. For details on SEPTA’s “Rebuilding for the Future” program, visit https://www.septa.org/rebuilding/splash.html.

For more information about the project, visit https://www.septa.org/rebuilding/101-102-modernization.html, call SEPTA at 1-800-834-5564 or email TrolleyModernization@septa.org.