Here's how to use SEPTA during the NFL draft and Penn Relays
It will use the increased ridership to help promote the Key program by selling prepaid cards.
With the NFL draft and the Penn Relays both coming to Philadelphia this week, SEPTA laid out Tuesday its plans to keep people moving.
The draft and the collegiate athletic event are both being held Thursday through Saturday, the draft on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and the Penn Relays at Franklin Field, on the University of Pennsylvania's campus. Also, a Phillies game is being played Thursday at 1 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park.
>> Click here for more coverage of the 2017 NFL draft in Philadelphia
SEPTA anticipates significant transit crowds and advises people to buy tickets in advance and prepare for crowded parking lots at SEPTA's Regional Rail stations.
"We are anticipating heavy ridership on all of our modes on April 27 through 29," Jeff Knueppel, SEPTA's general manager, said in a statement.
>> Click here for our complete guide to getting around during the draft
The transportation authority is using the sport events to expand interest in SEPTA Key, the smart fare card that has been rolled out over the last year. The authority will be selling prepaid Key cards for $5 and $10 at AT&T, Walnut-Locust, and Fern Rock Stations for travel to events, officials said, and at Dilworth Station in the evenings. SEPTA is trying to encourage riders to switch to Key now, as it will eventually replace all other fare systems now available for public transportation.
SEPTA's Broad Street and Market-Frankford Lines are expected to be the easiest ways to get around. The El has a 15th Street stop within walking distance of the entrance to the draft on the Parkway. The two lines will run with extra trains on Thursday and Friday and on a 24-hour schedule Friday and Saturday. The Broad Street Line will also have express trains Thursday afternoon to assist with a businessperson's special that offers riders a fare and game-ticket combination. All construction is being postponed from Thursday to Saturday.
On Regional Rail, SEPTA is sticking to a regular schedule but will have additional cars on off-peak trains. Ticket offices at Ambler, Doylestown, Lansdale, Norristown, Bryn Mawr, Fort Washington, Marcus Hook, Paoli, Cornwells Heights, Jenkintown-Wyncote, Media, and Warminster will be open until 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and will be open 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Ticket offices at Jefferson, Suburban, and 30th Street Stations will be open until midnight Thursday through Saturday.
The Norristown High Speed Line will run as usual, and trolleys will be minimally affected, with additional trolley cars on the 10, 11, 13, 34, and 36 routes planned.
Road closures will cause some changes in bus service. The Route 7, 32, 38, 43, and 48 buses will be detoured through the Benjamin Franklin Parkway area during the setup for the draft, through the event itself, and during breakdown. Detours on the 27, 38, and 43 buses have already gone into effect and will continue through Monday.