PHLASH Is Back With A Free Service Period And Expanded Route

#PhillyPHLASH is back! Hop on starting April 23. Ride for FREE opening weekend! http://bit.ly/1j2Nz11

News provided by

Independence Visitor Center Corporation (IVCC)

Apr 23, 2015, 02:30 ET

PHILADELPHIA, April 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting today, Philadelphia's residents and visitors will see the return of those purple buses. That's right, the Philly PHLASH is back and kicking off the season on Thursday, April 23, with free service through Sunday, April 26.

PHLASH, which is managed by the Independence Visitor Center Corporation (IVCC), will operate a seven-day-a-week service through September 7, 2015, with a Friday through Sunday schedule beginning on September 11 through November 22, 2015, and picking up again to a seven-day-a-week schedule from November 27, 2015 through January 3, 2016 for the holiday season. During these periods PHLASH will run from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with buses arriving at all stops every 15 minutes.

"We are excited to once again provide PHLASH service to visitors during the height of the region's tourism season. PHLASH is convenient, affordable and the best and easiest way to get to Philadelphia's major attractions." IVCC President and CEO James J. Cuorato said. "This year we're excited to announce that we're expanding this great service by adding several stops, including a stop closer to the Barnes Foundation at 20^th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 17^th and John F. Kennedy Boulevard outside the Comcast Center, and the 1600 block of Market Street near Liberty Place."

The route also includes a new transfer location at the Philadelphia Museum of Art that will take riders to the Philadelphia Zoo, Please Touch Museum, and Shofuso Japanese House and Garden.

"Philly PHLASH is a driving force within the city's $9.34 billon tourism industry, which supports more than 86,000 jobs in the Greater Philadelphia area." Mayor Michael A. Nutter said. "PHLASH provides visitors with direct access to key attractions, and with a new expanded route it's even easier to access more of our great city's cultural, arts, history, and entertainment assets throughout the year."

"PHLASH is a great way to visit Philadelphia," said Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of Visit Philadelphia®. "It connects our major attractions and is a comfortable, cost-effective way to see more, do more, and stay longer."

At $5 for an all-day pass, or $2 per ride, PHLASH tickets are available on the buses with exact change only, select hotels and consignment locations, and visitor center locations.

Visit phillyPHLASH.com for details.

Operation of the PHLASH would not be possible without the generous assistance and support of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the City of Philadelphia, and SEPTA. Additionally, PHLASH continues to be in service due to the contributions of historical sites and cultural institutions throughout the city including the Barnes Foundation, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, Eastern State Penitentiary, Franklin Institute, National Constitution Center, National Museum of American Jewish History, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Zoo, Please Touch Museum, Reading Terminal Market, The Shops at Liberty Place, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau and Visit Philadelphia®.

SOURCE Independence Visitor Center Corporation (IVCC)