Commuters survive Day 1 of SEPTA strike and hope there’s no Day 2

Philadelphians who rely on SEPTA for their day-to-day mobility tried to make the best of it Monday without public transit.

But they are really hoping they won’t have to cope with another day of inconvenience.

“I couldn’t take my son to daycare and I couldn’t get to work,” complained Iisha Rosser, 23, of North Philly, who relies on three separate SEPTA lines for her 90-minute commute. “That actually put me in a bad place.”

Rosser said she’s trying to look at the strike as a holiday to spend extra time with her 18-month-old son. But she doesn’t want to have to tell her employer that she’s not showing up a second day.

“They were a little upset, but they know my situation,” she said.

One distinguished looking man with a briefcase and a porkpie hat trudging along slowly said he was walking back home from work. “At least it’s a beautiful day,” he said. “I just hope they’re not on strike again tomorrow.”

Another man complained that his wife had to walk more than an hour to work.

“I can’t believe, can’t imagine, so many people can’t get to their job,” said Joyce Burd, 69, a Fairmount resident.

“My concern is that it’s not going to be resolved by Election Day, and I’m hoping and praying it will be,” she added. “It will really affect turnout, and we need Hillary to carry the state.”

“A lotta people are gonna lose their jobs over this s—t, man!” complained one North Philly resident on Girard Avenue who asked not to be identified. “They shut the whole city down when they go on strike!

“A lot of people waiting out here for the trolley don’t even know,” he fumed. “They can’t afford hacks [unlicensed taxis.] … They made some people get off the buses at midnight when they went on strike. Can you imagine, people being stuck downtown, having to walk miles home?”

TWU Local 234 represents about 5,000 SEPTA bus drivers, subway and trolley operators, mechanics and maintenance workers in Philadelphia and its suburbs.

They went on strike at midnight Nov. 1 as their contract expired. Regional Rail is not affected by the strike.

SEPTA officials say they are continuing efforts to negotiate a new contract.

Below, see an informational bulletin released by the city’s ReadyPhiladelphia notification program after the strike took effect.

As of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday morning November 1, theTransport Workers Union (TWU) Local 234 City Transit Division is on strike.

This means that SEPTA City bus, trolley, trackless trolley, Market Frankford Line, and Broad Street Line/Broad Ridge Spur Line services are suspended.

Customized Community Transportation (CCT)/Paratransit, and the LUCY Loop will continue to operate.

Visit SEPTA’sService Interruption Guidefor more information regarding service interruption.

What You Need To Know

• City government will remain open for business.
• Parking is prohibited on both sides of Broad Street, from Spring Garden to South Street.
• Bus Zones may be used by any vehicle to drop-off and pick-up passengers. Vehicles may not be left unattended.
• The City will provide a free shuttlefor City employeesalong the Broad St line and Market Frankford line. All riders must show proof of city employment.

• Jurors are also allowed to take the employee shuttle with proper documentation and photo ID, and will receive direction when they call to confirm their reporting times.
• Indego will increase capacity at 4 key stations in Center City and will offer a valet service at the Municipal Services Building to allow for efficient check in and out. For more information or to sign up for Indego visit theirwebsiteand follow them onTwitter.
• Employees and Philadelphia residents are encouraged to sign up forReadyPhiladelphia,the City’s emergency text and email alert system to receive important information regarding transit and travel.

• Autopark at Market Street East. Entrance on 10^thStreet between Arch and Filbert Streets

• Parkade on 8th St.Entrances on 8^thStreet between Arch and Filbert and on Arch Street east of 8^thStreet and west of 8^thStreet

• Autopark at Jefferson. Entrance on 10^thStreet between Market and Chestnut Streets

• Autopark at Independence Mall. Entrances on 5^thand 6^thStreets between Market and Arch Streets

• Autopark at Old City. Entrances on Front and 2nd Streets between Chestnut and Walnut Streets

• Bus Zones may be used by any vehicle to drop-off and pick-up passengers. Vehicles may not be left unattended.
• Residential Permit Parking enforcement will be suspended from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. For zones with two hour parking regulations, timing will begin at 3:30 and ticketing at 5:30 p.m.
• To allow additional time for motorists to return to their car to purchase additional time, expired meter or kiosk receipts will not be ticketed for one hour after the expiration.
• Parking normally prohibited or limited on the following blocks will be permitted without limitation during the strike:
  • 2^ndStreet from Spring Garden to Willow Streets, west side.
  • Spring Garden Street from Front to I-95 overpass, both sides
  • Spring Garden Street from 5^thto 9^thStreets, both sides
  • Vine Street from 10^thto Broad Streets, both sides
  • 18^thStreet from Race to Vine Streets, west side
  • 23^rdStreet from Arch to Race Streets, west side
  • Chestnut Street Viaduct from Front Street to Columbus Boulevard, south side
  • Columbus Boulevard from Market to Lombard Streets, east side
  • JFK Boulevard from 20^thStreet to Schuylkill Avenue, both side
  • Lemon Hill Drive from Kelly to Sedgley Drives, north side
  • Poplar Drive from Sedgley Drive to Girard Avenue, both sides
  • Sedgley Drive from Poplar Drive to Girard Avenue, both sides
• Parking is also available at the following locations:
  • 5^thStreet from Spring Garden to Willow Streets, both sides
  • 6^thStreet from Spring Garden to Willow Streets, both sides
  • 8^thStreet from Spring Garden to Willow Streets, both sides
  • Riverside parking areas on Kelly and M. L. King Drives
  • City owned lot at 682 N. 6^thStreet (south of Girard Avenue)
• No parking will be permitted on Broad Street from Spring Garden to South Streets, both sides.
• Except for the items listed above, all parking regulations will be enforced. Special emphasis will be placed on safety violations such as blocking a fire hydrant, parked on a sidewalk, blocking a crosswalk, too close to a corner, double parking, and other violations not mentioned above.