Philly faces wrath of Jonas

Philly faces wrath of Jonas
Sam Newhouse

With more than two feet dumped of snow dumped on the region Friday and Saturday, Philly will be digging out from under the fourth worst storm in city history for days.

SEPTA is still expecting system-wide delays Monday as they start to bring back bus and the Regional Rail servicesfor the Monday morning commute.

“It’s been a very very long weekend for our employees, battling under terrible conditions, high winds … snow drifting back into areas they just cleared,” said SEPTAGeneralManager Jeffrey Knueppel. “In the morning it will be a slow start.We haven’t operated these trains for a couple days now …we are going to pick up rhythm and get going as the day goes on.”

The Regional Rail is expected to be operational Monday with some delays. But three lines may not be ready for the morning commute, Knueppel said.

Doubts remain specificallyabout the Cynwyd Line, Chestnut Hill Line, and the Trenton line, Kneuppel said.

“We’re not sure if they’re going to make it for morning service,” he said, but said workers were seeking to get those trains active as soon as possible.

Just twenty-three percent of SEPTA bus lines were operating as of Sunday night due to snow covered and icy streets citywide, Kneuppel said.Twenty-two city bus routes and 12 suburban bus routes are currently active.

“The numbers will continue to climb,” Knueppel said.

The Broad Street subway and the Market-Frankford el are expected to operate normally Monday.

Route 101 and 102 are operating except for a small part of Route 101 in Media.

The Norristown High Speed Line’s third rail is covered by snow, and from 69th Street to Bryn Mawr will be in service Monday, Knueppel said, while SEPTA continues working to clear the rest of the line with a jet engine.

Public schools will be closed Monday. That means the school year will last one extra day, to June 23, 2016.

Trash and recycling pickup is canceled Monday; residents whose pickup day is Monday are being asked to wait until the following Monday.

New Jersey Transit expects regular service Monday. PATCO never interrupted service during the storm.

Chester County government facilities and courts are closed Monday.