Candis R. McLean
Today marks the insane first day of the tumultuous and panicked SEPTA workers’ strike in the city of Philadelphia. As many people got up to go to work this morning and some students made their treks in to school, each group had to find new modes of transportation to get there. TWU (Transit Workers Union) officially began their strike at midnight. The Local 234 union declared a work stoppage due to disagreements with SEPTA over pensions, wages, breaks, healthcare, and more. The fallout of this cease in transit left many of the thousands of passengers who use public transportation daily scrambling to the one system that remains operational, the Regional Rail.
RRD: Picketers blocking the rail yards are preventing crews getting to their trains; expect delays of up to 45 minutes.
— SEPTA (@SEPTA) November 1, 2016
When arriving at various Regional Rail stations around the city and the neighboring areas, riders were met with extreme delays and train cancellations. SEPTA asserts picketing and worker shortages are the cause for the surge in terminations. Most stations are in disarray and are jam-packed with people either wondering what time they’re going to get to work or arrive home. Several SEPTA customers were forced to use alternate services like Uber, Lyft, or taxis to ensure a timely arrival to their destinations. Increased traffic and vehicles were noted on the road this morning. The PPA (Philadelphia Parking Authority) is offering discounted parking in the city. A flat rate of $10 for 10 hours and $15 for 24 hours will be charged at certain parking garages in the city. PPA has also alerted drivers to some new parking guidelines while the SEPTA strike is in fill force.
RRD: Significant number of trains to be canceled tonight; several rail yards blocked by TWU strike activity. Seek alternate means.
— SEPTA (@SEPTA) November 1, 2016
SEPTA has alerted passengers to the cancelled trains and shortages in various ways including social media. As you can see here, the frustration from passengers is spilling over:
@SEPTA_SOCIAL Appreciate the snarky wiseass retort. No surprise that your union walked out. They deserve better & so do we. Problem = YOU.
— Ed Morrone (@SpecialEd335) November 1, 2016
The city can only hope this transit terror comes to an end very soon.