SEPTA Closing Philadelphia Station to Fix Elevators

The Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is closing its Somerset station in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood to repair its two broken-down elevators but did not give a timeline for when the station would reopen, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on March 15. SEPTA blamed the problem on homeless people and drug users urinating in and littering the lifts with trash that has damaged the machinery. The agency posted the closure on its website saying it would continue indefinitely. In addition to repairing the elevators, SEPTA plans to address ways to protect workers and commuters from harassment by the homeless people and drug users. The station has been a hangout for people especially because of cold weather and the pandemic. Somerset station has recently been serving about 800 commuters per day, which is about 40% of the pre-pandemic use. During the closure, riders are urged to use area bus lines or the nearby Allegheny and Huntington Stations.