Philadelphia Daily Local Headlines: Storm cleanup, transit restoration, schools back in person

Top local headlines

Philadelphia is still digging out from the late-week winter storm, and the city’s recovery is shifting from emergency response to a return to regular routines.

Snow emergency declared; city services and safety steps

The city declared a snow emergency starting Sunday, Feb. 22, triggering no-parking rules on snow emergency routes and a full deployment of plows, salt, and street crews. Officials also highlighted cold-weather outreach through a Code Blue, with city-funded intake and warming options for people experiencing homelessness.

Transit update: service adjusted, then steadily restored

During the storm, transit officials implemented system-wide service changes, including suspended Regional Rail while safety checks were completed and modified service on some subway and trolley lines. As streets cleared, buses and rail service began coming back in phases, with riders urged to check alerts for the latest line-by-line status and lingering delays.

Schools: remote learning ended; in-person classes resume

District schools shifted to virtual learning on Tuesday, Feb. 24, as crews worked to clear streets and sidewalks and the snow emergency remained in effect. By early Wednesday, Feb. 25, the district announced a return to in-person learning, while families were reminded that after-school activities and building operations can change quickly during cleanup days.

Parking reset: $5 garage rate ends; normal enforcement returns

As the snow emergency wound down, the city’s parking authority announced the end of its $5 snow-emergency garage rate and a return to regular meter and time-zone enforcement. Officials said safety-related violations continued to be enforced throughout the storm period, and towing for blocked routes was expected to ramp back up as normal rules resumed.

• What to watch: residential side-street plowing and refreezing as temperatures dip overnight.
• What helps: keeping hydrants and curb cuts clear, and moving cars off posted emergency routes.

Sources

https://www.phila.gov/2026-02-22-city-declares-snow-emergency-for-february-22-storm/
https://6abc.com/post/septa-issues-service-advisory-ahead-potential-philly-area-blizzard/18634059/
https://www.phillyvoice.com/philly-snowstorm-cleanup-septa-nj-transit/
https://philapark.org/2026/02/ppa-ends-5-snow-emergency-garage-rate-will-resume-meter-and-time-zone-parking-enforcement/
https://6abc.com/18646345/