SEPTA strike, day two: Evening update

This is an ongoing story. Last updated 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016

It’s another night of long lines at SEPTA’s Regional Rail train stations in Center City.  The Transport Workers Union Local 234, which represents a large part of SEPTA’s workforce went on strike Tuesday 12:01 a.m.

Contract negotiations are expected to resume tonight at the Sheraton Hotel in Center City Philadelphia. 

Michaela Winberg posted on Twitter that SEPTA ambassadors are yelling departing train lines to help move lines of passengers along.

SEPTA ambassadors are yelling departing train lines to help move lines of passengers along #septastrike pic.twitter.com/Kyp769wFn8

— Michaela Winberg (@mwinberg_) November 2, 2016

 

Service Alert:  A person was hit by a SEPTA train near 57th Street and Baltimore Avenue. The entire line was shutdown but at 5:05 p.m. SEPTA restarted westbound train service.

Elwyn: Inbound service remains suspended due to emergency activity at Angora Station. Outbound service has resumed.

— SEPTA (@SEPTA_ELW) November 2, 2016

SEPTA’s Media/Elwyn line is an East-West train line that includes stops in Center City, University City, West Philadelphia, and Swarthmore. 

At the very beginning of rush hour Tuesday evening, things are starting to get a little hectic at 30th Street Station. #septastrike pic.twitter.com/av2CrjJzzu

— Michaela Winberg (@mwinberg_) November 2, 2016

What’s not operating: 

SEPTA city bus routes, trolley routes 10, 11, 13, 15, 34 and 36, the Market-Frankford Line and Broad Street Line

What is operating: 

SEPTA Regional Rail Lines,the Norristown High Speed Line, Trolley Routes 101 and 102 and Suburban bus routes, CCT, LUCY, and Routes 204, 205, 310 and Cornwells Heights Parking Shuttle. 

Ben Robinson can’t believe how long the lines are at 30th Street Station for the SEPTA trains. 

This is crazy!!!! 30th street station @5:48 rush hour. @SEPTA_SURREAL @SEPTA_SOCIAL @SEPTA pic.twitter.com/aAVWetRow6

— Ben Robinson (@djslowboil) November 2, 2016

Winners and losers

Ride-sharing businesses are doing more business because of the strike. Uber reported a 41 percent jump in unique riders during rush hours this week, compared to last week, while Lyft spokeswoman Chelsea Harrison said Lyft’s ridership spiked 46 percent from Monday to Tuesday, the first day of the strike.

That growth wasn’t without grousing though: Many commuters weren’t happy with the pricing surges – two to three times higher than normal – that accompanied that increased demand. Dena Driscoll had a different experience.

@Uber_Philly I was charged for a canceled ride. However the driver canceled I didn’t. I can’t seem to find on your website where to complain

— Dena Driscoll (@bikemamadelphia) November 2, 2016

Some big employers are taking matters into their own hands. These Academy buses lined up at City Hall are for city workers.

Shuttles are here to get @PhiladelphiaGov employees home safely! @PhilaOEM #septastrike pic.twitter.com/rWiMSCWCkv

— SERVE Philadelphia (@SERVEPhila) November 2, 2016

Some of the region’s hospitals are also offering special shuttles and even discounted parking for employees. 

The transit strike is making it harder for some students get to class. On Tuesday morning, students’ attendance at the Community College of Philadelphia was down by as much as 50 percent during morning classes, thanks to the strike, according to the college. 

A transit strike like this probably hits Philladelphia’s working poor the hardest. Many who don’t own a car rely on SEPTA’s buses, trolleys and subways to get to work. 

Staci Moore relies on all three SEPTA services. Moore lives in Northern Liberties, (Just North of Center City) but works in North Philly. 

On a typical day, Moore takes the bus, trolley and finally the subway before arriving at work. During the strike, none of those are options. “I’m lucky enough that I have a co-worker who lives only a couple blocks away from me so I’m able to get a ride from her,” Moore said. 

Strike soundtrack

To honor all of you having to endure a longer commute, a West Philly rapper has remixed a hit song with his own lyrics. Check out Damian “Dame Dollur” Hewitt’s SEPTA Strike song here.

What’s next

If no agreement is reached before Election Day, SEPTA officials said they would seek another injunction to restore service on that day “to ensure that the strike does not prevent any voters from getting to the polls and exercising their right to vote.”

Check SEPTA’s guide for service interruptions here.

This is an ongoing story. Check back with us at NewsWorks.org for updates.