University City District (UCD) is pleased to announce that its highly successful employee shuttle system LUCY (Loop through University City) will run for another year, through August 2005. In July 1999, LUCY was started by University City District in order to provide a critical link between Philadelphia's transportation hub at 30th Street Station and University City's largest employers.
Since that time, the LUCY system has grown to carry more than 250,000 passengers annually while consistently maintaining a 90% approval rating according to an annual passenger census conducted by UCD. LUCY is a public transit service funded by the participating organizations and managed by University City District. UCD hired SEPTA to provide six vehicles and operate the shuttles. Operating expenses are provided by farebox revenue and through contractual agreements with Penn, UPHS, and Veterans Administration Medical Center.
Institutional contributions are determined by an annual survey. In return for their operating subsidy, their students, faculty and staff ride free with proper identification. The public may use regular SEPTA fare instruments (tokens, passes, transfers and cash), Trans or TrailPass, transfer pass, or $2 base fare.
LUCY has a wheelchair lift and two wheelchair tie-downs per bus.
LUCY operates Mondays through Fridays, except major holidays, 6:10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The route loops through University City serving 30th Street Station (departing every 12 to 35 minutes), Penn, Drexel, The Science Center, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Presbyterian Medical Center, CHOP, Children's Seashore House, and VA Medical Center.