State/County - Bensalem Township

SEPTA Announces Regional Rail Service Reductions Beginning Sunday

Published

6 years ago

March 27, 2020

SEPTA announced on Thursday it is reducing on Regional Rail services beginning Sunday amid drop offs in use of the transportation services

SEPTA will reduce Regional Rail to an “Essential Service Schedule” beginning this Sunday (March 29). The move follows previous Regional Rail schedule adjustments implemented last week aimed at providing essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic a spokesperson said. Service on Transit modes, including buses, subways and trolleys, will continue to operate on reduced Saturday schedules, SEPTA said ever mindful of reminding the public about service reductions.

“Based on sharp ridership reductions of 94 percent on Regional Rail this week, the Essential Service Schedule will allow SEPTA to continue to provide service for those who need to travel. It also allows SEPTA to follow stepped-up cleaning protocols aimed at providing a safe and healthy environment for customers and employees,” SEPTA officials said.

Regional Rail has been operating on a Saturday schedule for the last two weeks, and Transit services including subways, buses and trolleys moved to a similar level of service this past week. Ridership is down significantly on all modes, however, the losses on Regional Rail have been larger than Transit. Transit ridership is down over 70 percent this week, making the decision to reduce schedules easier, officials said.

SEPTA will continue to closely monitor all services to try to ensure that there is enough space on-board vehicles for customers to practice social distancing.

“We are pleading with our customers – if you don’t have to ride, please don’t,” said SEPTA General Manager Leslie S. Richards. “We need to reserve space on our buses, trains and trolleys for those who need to get to essential jobs, or access life-sustaining services.”

Regional Rail schedules effective on Sunday are posted on SEPTA’s website.

Here is a summary of the changes:

- Service on most lines will run every two hours

- Airport Line service will run every hour

- Twelve of the 13 Regional Rail lines will operate seven days a week; Cynwyd Line service will operate Monday through Friday

For customers who need to travel during this crisis, SEPTA has added an interactive Essential Services Map to its website. This interactive tool maps the locations of hospitals, grocery stores and other essential services, and shows the SEPTA services that connect to them. The map is available here.

During the COVID-19 crisis, SEPTA will streamline its social media communications on Twitter through the @SEPTAPHILLY account. Please follow and look for ongoing updates.

In addition, SEPTA will continue to post the latest information on its website, and in announcements to the local news media.

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Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Police Seek Info on Missing Teen Believed to be in Lower Bucks Area

Published

30 minutes ago

March 5, 2026

Jeff Bohen

Police from Plumstead Township Police Department with an assist from Tullytown Borough Police are asking for help from the community in attempting to locate a missing 17 year-old .

Ryan Jaatar Age 17 is 5ft 8in Brown eyes and has not been seen since January 3, 2026, police say.

Jaatar was last seen by his father at their residence in Plumstead Township.

Jaatar’s, according to investigators, is believed to be in the Levittown/Bristol/Croydon area.

Anyone with information, please contact Detective Stacie Arnosky at sarnosky@plumstead.gov or 215-766-8741, ext. 120 or Contact the Tullytown Borough Police Department at 215-945-0999. You can also submit a confidential tip at through this link.

State/County - Bensalem Township

Burlington Bristol Bridge to Close Overnight Beginning Friday for Maintenance Work

Published

4 hours ago

March 5, 2026

staff

The Burlington County Bridge Commission announced that the Burlington Bristol Bridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. overnight beginning tomorrow (Friday March 6,) to Tuesday, March 10, weather permitting, for maintenance and repair work.

Human Interest - Bensalem Township

Floral Design Program Wins Again at Philadelphia Flower Show

Published

6 hours ago

March 5, 2026

staff

Dr. Patrick M. Jones (left), President & CEO of Bucks County Community College, and Carol Tyler admire the College’s floral design program’s exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show featuring “Joan of Arc at Orleans” by Stella Elkins Tyler. The sculpture, donated to the College by the Tyler family, is the centerpiece of the College’s award-winning “Rooted in Art” exhibit. The College was founded on the Tyler estate in Newtown more than 60 years ago. Credit: BCCC

In only its second year, Bucks County Community College (BCCC) picked up another medal at the prestigious horticultural expo for its ‘Rooted in Art’ tribute to Stella Elkins Tyler.

BCCC’s floral design program has once again taken home a prize in only its second year participating in the Philadelphia Flower Show. Students, alumni, and instructors earned a bronze medal for “Rooted in Art,” reflecting the College’s origins of being founded on the Newtown estate of artist and educational philanthropist Stella Elkins Tyler. The exhibit features Tyler’s sculpture “Joan of Arc at Orleans,” donated to the College by Carol Tyler, who visited the show with College President & CEO Dr. Patrick M. Jones (Feature Pic). The College was founded on the Tyler estate in Newtown more than 60 years ago. The exhibit features seven original floral designs, each interpreting the connection between nature, art, and education, alongside six selected student works from the College’s School of Arts and Communication.

Credit: BCCC

A team of 20 students, alumni, and instructors from BCCC’s floral design program helped install “Rooted in Art” at the Philadelphia Flower Show, which reflects the College’s origins of being founded on the Newtown estate of artist and educational philanthropist Stella Elkins Tyler. The exhibit features one of Tyler’s original bronze sculptures, “Joan of Arc at Orleans,” pictured in the background.

Credit: BCCC

Melanie Poff (left) and her mother Els Poff, both Certified Floral Designers from Doylestown and students in BCCC’s floral design program, helped surround “Joan of Arc at Orleans” by Stella Elkins Tyler with botanical beauty at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The sculpture is part of the “Rooted in Art” exhibit, reflecting the deep connection between art, education, and nature that Stella Elkins Tyler championed throughout her life.

Credit: BCCC

Amparito Arriaga, a Certified Floral Designer from Exton and a student in BCCC’s floral design program, installs part of the “Rooted in Art” exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show. The exhibit features seven original floral designs, each interpreting the connection between nature, art, and education, alongside six selected student works from the College’s School of Arts and Communication.