How to get around in Delco this week

SEPTA has begun the next phase of an on-going, multiyear infrastructure project on its Route 101/102 (Media/Sharon Hill) trolley lines, which will require buses to substitute trolleys on weekends.

“The work we are doing on the Media and Sharon Hill lines will allow us to better serve our Delaware County customers,” said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey Knueppel in a release. “This extensive infrastructure work cannot be completed while trolleys are operating or during the short night-owl windows.”

Weather permitting, buses will be used in place of trolleys for the entire routes of both lines on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays on the weekends of Jan. 11-13, 18-21 and

25-28; as well as February

1-3, 8-10, 15-17 and 22-24. Bus substitution will begin on Friday evenings at

7:13 p.m. Trolley service will resume at the start of the service day the following Monday. In the event of inclement weather, work will be cancelled and regular trolley service will operate.

Customers should plan to add 15 minutes of additional travel time to their trips. Buses will board at or near trolley stations. Boarding signs will be posted at stops. Locations are also listed at http://www.

septa.org/alert/construction/101-102.html.

The improvement project is the next phase of SEPTA’s installation of the Communications Based Train Control system on Routes 101 and 102, which uses radio communications between the vehicles and the signal system to improve safety.

“CBTC automatically prevents collisions between trolleys by enforcing safe stopping distances,” said Knueppel. “This modern system also prevents trolleys from exceeding established speed limits.”

Construction includes installation of new track crossovers, overhead contact wire and support structures at the new interlockings. In addition to CBTC work, SEPTA crews will perform key heavy maintenance projects along Routes

101 and 102. Passengers are encouraged to listen to local media outlets, visit septa.org and follow @SEPTA, @

SEPTA_TRL_101 and @

SEPTA_TRL_102 on Twitter for service updates.