The base fare for bus, trolley, and subway rides are all the same:
Transit maps and schedules appear on the SEPTA website. Google Maps and the SEPTA app also supply route, schedule, tracking, and delay information.
Subway (Blue Line)
The SEPTA Market-Frankford subway line (“Blue Line”) travels along Market Street (East-West). It can be picked up at 40th, 34th, 30th, 15th/City Hall, 13th, 11th, 8th, 5th, and 2nd Streets (and others), and is an easy and inexpensive way to get to both Center City and Old City for tours and dining.
Trolleys (Subway Surface Lines/Green Lines)
Some of the SEPTA trolley routes run underground between Center City and West Philadelphia. An Eastbound/Westbound stop is located at 36th and Sansom Streets. Additional stops to the East are located along Market Street at 33rd, 30th, 22nd, 19th, 15th/City Hall, and 13th Streets; to the West, the lines diverge. When boarding trolleys at street level, fares are paid upon entry, as for buses.
Buses
The two main SEPTA buses that go between the University of Pennsylvania and Center City/Old City are the 21 and the 42.
Going East to Center City/Old City, catch the 21 at the corner of 34th and Chestnut Streets or the 42 at the southeast corner of 33rd and Walnut Streets.
Going West to the University of Pennsylvania campus, catch either bus at bus stops along Walnut Street. Both buses make stops at nearly every street. The 21 bus goes up Walnut Street beyond 40th, while the 42 bus turns left at 34th and Walnut and discharges passengers on the southwest corner before turning right on Spruce Street.
In Philadelphia, taxis can be hailed on the street or using one of the apps below. The taxi dispatch station nearest the conference is in front of the Sheraton University City, at 36th and Chestnut Streets. Fares are determined by distance according to a meter. There may be a surcharge for fuel (about $1.00) and for additional passengers. You are expected to tip the driver approximately 20% of the final fare.
215-Get-A-Cab
Call (215) 438-2222, download the app, or reserve online.
Curb
Add credit card information, set your preferred tip ahead of time, and pair to pay using each cab's unique ID number, visible on the backseat screen.
Download the apps for door-to-door pickup and delivery.
If you wish to rent a car for travel outside of Philadelphia, there are several options near the University of Pennsylvania. Car rentals are generally not recommended for travel within the city due to the scarcity and expense of parking.
Enterprise Rentals, University City: (215) 387-3283
Hertz Rentals, 30th Street Station: (215) 492-2958
The City of Philadelphia urban bike share service is called Indego. There is an Indego pickup and drop-off station two blocks from the Penn Libraries, located at the corner of 36th and Sansom (in front of Urban Outfitters). For information regarding cost and bike share locations please visit the Indego website or look for the blue bike icon on Google Maps.
