SEPTA Strike Contingency Plans
In the event of a strike, in collaboration with Drexel University, UPHS, and CHOP, Penn will provide free transit services to all employees, as follows:
- Penn Transit and Drexel Transportation will offer express shuttle transportation from the 69th Street Terminal and 15th and Locust Street.
- CHOP and UPHS will offer additional shuttle options serving South Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, Lancaster Avenue, and Woodland Avenue.
- The LUCY shuttle will continue normal operations, with free service for employees of Penn, UPHS, CHOP, and Wistar.
Riders are welcome to use these services for free upon presentation of a valid PennCard or Penn-provided Transit Guest pass, which will be accepted on any of the vehicles operated by the above organizations, regardless of which entity is offering the service.
What Route Is Right for Me?
Penn Transit suggests the best strike-contingency route for your commute below.
| I'm Traveling To/From | Consider This Option |
| South Philadelphia | CHOP Loop |
| Center City/Rittenhouse | Penn Transit/Drexel Loop (16th St. or 69th St.) |
| West Philadelphia | Penn Transit/Drexel (16th St. or 69th St.) or CHOP Loop |
| Woodland Avenue toward 56th Street | CHOP Loop |
| New Jersey | Penn Transit/Drexel 16th Street Route |
| 69th Street Terminal for connections to SEPTA suburban services | Penn Transit/Drexel 69th Street Route |
When Is SEPTA Expected to Strike?
A potential SEPTA strike may start with the morning commute on Friday, November 8, 2024, a day after the current union contract expires.
This SEPTA chart outlines the services that would be impacted during a possible strike. Visit SEPTA's strike page for details.
Penn Transit and Drexel Transportation will run two morning and evening rush-hour loops, operating from Monday through Friday between 69th Street and 15th and Locust. These loops are free to employees with a PennCard or a Penn-provided Transit Guest card.
Morning Commute (every 30 minutes from 7 – 9:30 AM)
Departing:
- 15th and Locust at the PATCO Terminal (in front of Fado Irish Pub)
- 69th Street Terminal, Market Street and Chatham Road (in front of EMG Urgent Care)
Dropping off:
- 32nd and Walnut at the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM)
- 33rd and Ludlow Streets
Evening Commute (4:15 – 6:15 PM)
Departing:
- 32nd and Walnut at the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM)
- 33rd and Ludlow Streets
Dropping off:
- 15th and Locust at the PATCO Terminal (in front of Fado Irish Pub)
- 69th Street Terminal, Market Street and Chatham Road (in front of EMG Urgent Care)
Penn and Drexel shuttles will be trackable in real time via the PennTransit Mobile app, downloadable on the iTunes Store or Google Play. Click on “Routes,” then on “16th Street Route” or “69th Street Route,” depending on your needs.
Contingency transportation services operated by Penn during a potential public transit service disruption are intended to aid employees with their commutes. Each rider must have a valid eligible ID card. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding.
Vehicle bike racks can accommodate two bicycles per route on a first-come, first-served basis. Bikes are not permitted inside buses or shuttles.
Shuttles will end the first full day that SEPTA is back up and running.
SEPTA has issued its guidance on the subject of refunds at https://wwww.septa.org/news/service-interruption-information/#travel.
Daily parking is available at the below Penn Parking facilities on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on space availability.
-
Chestnut 34 garage (corner of Chestnut and 34th Streets)
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Walnut 38 garage (corner of Walnut and 38th Streets)
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Walnut 40 garage (corner of Walnut and 40th Street)
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Penn Park lot (3000 Walnut Street)
The daily Penn Parking rate is $22.
Commuters can register for the Occasional Parking program, which provides a $3 discount on Penn's public parking rates ($22 per day).
Different than the permit options, parking under this program is subject to daily availability (rather than guaranteed) and payments are made on a post-tax basis. Pre-registration and designation of a preferred payment method is necessary to participate. Payroll deduction is not allowed with this option.
Monitor www.septa.org and local headlines for updates on the strike.
Please contact our team at commuterservices@upenn.edu.
16th Street Route
THIS ROUTE WILL RUN ONLY IN THE EVENT OF A SEPTA STRIKE.
Use your PennCard or valid ID* to access an express shuttle operated weekdays by Penn Transit and Drexel University. The below schedule will be followed as closely as possible, with the understanding that traffic will be heavier than normal on and around campus. Track the route in real time on the PennTransit Mobile app.
16th Street Route Morning Commute
Pickup at 15th and Locust Streets; campus drop-off at 32nd and Walnut Streets AND 33rd and Ludlow Streets
- 7 AM
- 7:30 AM
- 8 AM
- 8:30 AM
- 9 AM
- 9:30 AM
16th Street Evening Commute
Pickup at 32nd & Walnut Streets AND 33rd and Ludlow Streets; drop-off at 15th and Locust Streets
- 4:15 PM
- 4:45 PM
- 5:15 PM
- 5:45 PM
- 6:15 PM
*Valid IDs: DragonCard, UPSH ID, CHOP ID, Wistar ID, Penn Transit Guest Pass
69th Street Route
THIS ROUTE WILL RUN ONLY IN THE EVENT OF A SEPTA STRIKE.
Use your PennCard or valid ID* to access an express shuttle operated weekdays by Penn Transit and Drexel University. The below schedule will be followed as closely as possible, with the understanding that traffic will be heavier than normal on and around campus. Track the route in real time on the PennTransit Mobile app.
69th Street Route Morning Commute
Pickup at the 69th Street Terminal at Market Street and Chatham Road (in front of EMG Urgent Care); campus drop-off at 32nd and Walnut Streets AND 33rd and Ludlow Streets
- 7 AM
- 7:30 AM
- 8 AM
- 8:30 AM
- 9 AM
- 9:30 AM
69th Street Evening Commute
Pickup at 32nd & Walnut Streets AND 33rd and Ludlow Streets; drop-off at the 69th Street Terminal at Market Street and Chatham Road (in front of EMG Urgent Care)
- 4:15 PM
- 4:45 PM
- 5:15 PM
- 5:45 PM
- 6:15 PM
*Valid IDs: DragonCard, UPSH ID, CHOP ID, Wistar ID, Penn Transit Guest Pass
CHOP Shuttle
THESE ROUTES WILL RUN ONLY IN THE EVENT OF A SEPTA STRIKE.
- Turn south on 34th Street, then west on Walnut Street.
- Proceed westbound along Walnut Street and terminate at 63rd and Walnut Streets.
- Stop at all even number streets to take on and discharge passengers.
This shuttle will operate weekdays from:
UPHS Shuttles
THESE ROUTES WILL RUN ONLY IN THE EVENT OF A SEPTA STRIKE.
Use your PennCard or valid ID* to access an express shuttle operated weekdays by the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS). They will be marked with a "UPHS Shuttle" sign, which will also indicate the route. The below schedules will be followed as closely as possible, with the understanding that traffic will be heavier than normal on and around campus.
All shuttles will wait one minute at each stop. Once a full route has been completed, it will be repeated.
Lancaster Avenue Route
Runs 5:30 - 8:30 AM AND 2:30 - 6:30 PM
- 63rd Street and Lancaster Avenue
- 60th Street and Lancaster Avenue
- 56th Street and Lancaster Avenue
- 52nd Street and Lancaster Avenue
- 46th Street and Lancaster Avenue
- 42nd Street and Lancaster Avenue
- Myrin Circle, in front of the Wright-Saunders Building at UPMC-Presbyterian
- The bus stop between HUP and CHOP, on the west side of 34th Street/Civic Center Boulevard
Runs 10:30 PM - 1:30 AM
- The bus stop between HUP and CHOP, on the west side of 34th Street/Civic Center Boulevard
- Myrin Circle, in front of the Wright-Saunders Building at UPMC-Presbyterian
- 42nd Street and Lancaster Avenue
- 46th Street and Lancaster Avenue
- 52nd Street and Lancaster Avenue
- 56th Street and Lancaster Avenue
- 46th Street and Lancaster Avenue
- 60th Street and Lancaster Avenue
- 63rd Street and Lancaster Avenue
Spruce Street & Chestnut Street Route
Runs 5:30 - 8:30 AM AND 2:30 - 6:30 PM
- 42nd and Spruce Streets
- 52nd and Spruce Streets
- 60th and Spruce Streets
- 53rd and Chestnut Streets
- 56th and Chestnut Streets
- 46th and Chestnut Streets
- Myrin Circle, in front of the Wright-Saunders Building at UPMC-Presbyterian
- The bus stop between HUP and CHOP, on the west side of 34th Street/Civic Center Boulevard
Runs 10:30 PM - 1:30 AM
- The bus stop between HUP and CHOP, on the west side of 34th Street/Civic Center Boulevard
- Myrin Circle, in front of the Wright-Saunders Building at UPMC-Presbyterian
- 46th and Chestnut Streets
- 56th and Chestnut Streets
- 53rd and Chestnut Streets
- 60th and Spruce Streets
- 52nd and Spruce Streets
- 42nd and Spruce Streets
Woodland Avenue Route
Runs 5:30 - 8:30 AM AND 2:30 - 6:30 PM
- 53rd Street and Lindbergh Boulevard
- 53rd Street and Woodland Avenue
- 60th Street and Woodland Avenue
- 56th Street and Woodland Avenue
- 52nd Street and Woodland Avenue
- 46th Street and Woodland Avenue
- 41st Street and Woodland Avenue
- Myrin Circle, in front of the Wright-Saunders Building at UPMC-Presbyterian
- The bus stop between HUP and CHOP, on the west side of 34th Street/Civic Center Boulevard
Runs 10:30 PM - 1:30 AM
- The bus stop between HUP and CHOP, on the west side of 34th Street/Civic Center Boulevard
- Myrin Circle, in front of the Wright-Saunders Building at UPMC-Presbyterian
- 41st Street and Woodland Avenue
- 46th Street and Woodland Avenue
- 52nd Street and Woodland Avenue
- 56th Street and Woodland Avenue
- 60th Street and Woodland Avenue
- 53rd Street and Woodland Avenue
- 53rd Street and Lindbergh Boulevard