PHILADELPHIA, PA – All City of Philadelphia offices are closing at 1 p.m. Wednesday due to winter weather in the forecast.
The city announced offices will close at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20 early in the day.
With many other early dismissals expected, SEPTA will be adding additional service around 1 pm to accommodate early dismissals.
SEPTA Regional Rail Trains will operate on Early Exit schedule Wednesday.
Nine Regional Rail trains will operate on the Early Exit schedule in which the evening schedule will be moved to midday service to accommodate commuters leaving early.
See Early Exit Winter Storm Service Plan for service information. SEPTA riders should check TrainView regularly for updates or additional service information throughout the day.
The Philadelphia Streets Department brined major thoroughfares Tuesday.
Crews are planning to salt and plow primary and secondary roads, bridge decks, and streets in areas of high air elevations. Salting of roads will not begin until the snow arrives and crews will remain on-duty overnight to monitor roadways and respond to problem locations and emergencies.
Trash and recycling collections are on a holiday schedule. Residents should set out materials at their normal location one day behind regular schedule for pick up. Sanitation crews will be working throughout the snow event; however, delays are expected as trucks navigate through the inclement weather.
The Streets Department urges residents to follow these simple tips for snow and ice management:
- Have shovels and de-icing supplies ready
- Salt steps and sidewalks early to prevent sticking
- Prepare a pathway at least 3 feet wide within six hours of the end of the storm
- Pile snow on the sidewalk along the curb line. Shoveling snow into the street hinders plowing efforts and it is illegal.
- Due to the weather, a Code Blue is in effect through tomorrow morning to protect people experiencing homelessness. Call Homeless Outreach at (215) 232-1984 if you see someone who needs shelter. Also during a Code Blue, City ordinance requires all dogs to be either indoors, or have access to shelter that meets certain requirements.
The Philadelphia Water Department’s customer contact center — (215) 685-6300 — will be open today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents are encouraged to shovel snow from the fronts of fire hydrants and storm drains on their block to allow snow melt to drain to the city sewer system.