SEPTA will reopen the South Broad Concourse on Tuesday, restoring the underground corridor between Center City transit stations ahead of a busy summer expected to draw large crowds to Philadelphia.
The concourse, which links the 15th Street/City Hall stations with Walnut-Locust Station, has been closed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beginning June 2, the passageway will open 15 minutes after the first train departs Fern Rock Transportation Center and close 30 minutes after the last train. SEPTA officials said the concourse will remain open permanently.
“We are excited to reopen this important connection that provides riders with easier access to our services at the heart of the system,” said SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer.
Sauer said the reopening will help ease street-level pedestrian congestion during several major events coming to Philadelphia, including FIFA World Cup matches, the MLB All-Star Game and celebrations marking America's 250th anniversary.
SEPTA has bolstered staffing of cleaners and Transit Police, allowing the Authority to plan for the reopening and ensure the concourse could be maintained and kept safe, secure, and clean long-term, SEPTA officials said.
SEPTA also made improvements to the concourse, including new cameras, bi-directional roto-gates, a cashier booth, and wayfinding signage.
SEPTA is planning expanded service for the six FIFA World Cup matches scheduled in Philadelphia this summer, as well as events associated with the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill.
On match days, SEPTA will operate additional Broad Street Line trains to and from NRG Station. The transit agency expects approximately 31,000 riders per match and estimates it will be able to move about 15,000 passengers per hour with the added service.
Airbnb will sponsor free rides departing NRG Station beginning at halftime and continuing for two hours after each match. Riders should expect longer-than-normal lines at NRG Station following games, SEPTA said.
The Broad Street Line and Market-Frankford Line will also operate overnight on match days, with trains running every 30 minutes to select stations.
Regional Rail service will be expanded as well. SEPTA said the last regularly scheduled trains on the Wilmington/Newark Line will be extended to provide service between Center City and the Claymont Transit Center in Delaware.
Additional late-night Regional Rail service will be available on June 19 and July 4.
For visitors attending the FIFA Fan Festival, SEPTA will increase bus service on Routes 32 and 48, which serve the Lemon Hill area. Both routes will operate every 15 minutes or less on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For more details about FIFA World Cup service, visit septa.org/2026-events.
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