Philadelphia Plows & Salt Trucks Mounting For Snow Removal Operation

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- All Philadelphia public and archdiocesan schools, as well as administrative offices, will be closed tomorrow and transportation officials are urging you not to drive if you don't have to.

Philadelphia plows and salting trucks are mounting a snow removal operation that is expected to last well into Thursday.

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A snow emergency is in effect until 7 a.m. Thursday in most places in the Philadelphia area. That means no parking on snow emergency routes overnight so crews can be sure to clear those major arteries. Philadelphia alone has 450 vehicles on duty.

Todd Quinones reports...

It will be another week of long overtime for city streets department crews, and Mayor Nutter says they'll keep at it until all city streets, including the side streets, are cleared:

"We're in the business of fighting snowstorms. We'll do whatever it takes to make sure the streets are as clear as possible and the citizens are as safe as possible."

Septa says the Broad Street and Market Frankford lines will work through the night too but service is suspended on most suburban routes and many city routes.

"The city will work hard through the night and into the morning to make sure streets are plowed and they're safe for folks to drive on," said Deputy Managing Director Liam O'Keefe.

At the airport, spokesperson Victoria Lupica says crews are at work too.

Lupica says hundreds of cancellations Wednesday may impact early morning travellers so you should check with your airline or with the airport website.

At 11:30pm Wednesday evening, SEPTA officials issued the following alert:

Bus: Due to deteriorating weather conditions, all SEPTA bus routes - city transit and suburban service -have been suspended.

Norristown High Speed Line: Effective 12 midnight, service will be suspended in order to begin snow clearing operations.

Market Frankford Line: Trains will replace NiteOwl bus service tonight. WestBound trains will depart Frankford Transportation Center every 20 minutes beginning at 12 AM; EastBound trains will depart 69th Street Terminal every 20 minutes beginning at 12:10 AM.

Broad Street Line: Trains will replace NiteOwl bus service tonight. SouthBound trains will depart Fern Rock every 20 minutes beginning at 12 AM; NorthBound trains will depart AT&T Station every 20 minutes beginning at 12:15 AM.

Trolley Lines: Route 15 operating in both directions with delays of up to 45 minutes. Routes 10, 11, 13, 34, 36, 101 and 102 are operating with delays.

Reported By Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio; Pat Loeb, KYW Newsradio