Draft:SEPTA Metro

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SEPTA Metro
SEPTA Metro logo
Elevated train on line L
Subway train on line B
Interurban train on line M
Subway–Surface trolley on train T4 (T line)
Suburban trolley on line D
Streetcar on line G
Clockwise from top left:
Trains on L, B, T, G, D, and M lines
Overview
OwnerSoutheastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
Area servedDelaware Valley
Transit typeRapid transit (L, B)
Light rail (D, G)
Trolley (T)
Interurban/Light rapid transit (M)
Number of lines12 Lines
13 Trains[a]
HeadquartersPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Websitewwww.septa.org/metro/
Operation
Infrastructure manager(s)

SEPTA Metro is the division of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) that comprises the agency's rapid transit and light rail services in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. SEPTA Metro was first proposed in 2021 to make the system easier to navigate. When SEPTA Metro is introduced in 2024, the Market–Frankford Line, Broad Street Line, Subway–Surface trolley lines, Norristown High-Speed Line, Route 15 trolley, and Routes 101 and 102 trolleys will be rebranded with lettered or alphanumeric route designations.

History[edit]

Context[edit]

SEPTA Metro[edit]

In September 2021, SEPTA proposed rebranding their rail transit services, the Market–Frankford Line, Broad Street Line, Subway–Surface trolley lines, Norristown High-Speed Line, Route 15 trolley, and Routes 101 and 102 trolleys) as the "SEPTA Metro", in order to make the system easier to navigate.[1][2]

Under this proposal, new maps, station signage, and line designations would be created. Under the proposed nomenclature, trunk lines would receive a letter and a color, with services having a numeric suffix and service name, to make wayfinding easier.[3] Services on the current Market–Frankford Line, for instance, would be called the "L Lines" and colored blue, with local service becoming the "L1 Market–Frankford Local". Services along the current Broad Street Line would become the "B Lines" and colored orange, with local service becoming the "B1 Broad Street Local".[4]

The express service would become the "B2 Broad Street Express", the special service would become the "B2 Express Sports Special", and spur service would become the "B3 Broad–Ridge Express". Services along the current subway–surface, Norristown High-Speed Line, Route 15 trolley, and Routes 101 and 102 suburban trolley trunk would become the "T Lines", "M Lines", "G Lines", and "D Lines" respectively.[4] SEPTA budgeted $40 million to June 2023 for the rebranding.[5]

In March 2022, SEPTA revised the SEPTA Metro proposal based on feedback from a 2 month-long outreach period between September and October 2021. The amended proposal involved describing each lettered service by the word "Line" rather than "Lines". Special service along the Broad Street Line would become part of the "B2 Broad Street Express", with service being differentiated by their end terminals. As part of the proposal, the roll-out of real-time information was stated as a priority.[6] Stations with shared names would also be renamed to avoid confusion.[3] SEPTA upgraded its website in late 2023,[7][8] in advance of the planned rollout of SEPTA Metro in 2024.[9] Prior to the official rebranding of SEPTA Metro, the first pieces of updated signage were installed at Drexel Station at 30th Street in February 2024.[10]

Lines[edit]

Rapid transit[edit]

Both rapid transit lines run from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. seven days a week.[12]

Interurban transit[edit]

  • M (formerly the Norristown High Speed Line or Purple Line): formerly known as the Philadelphia & Western (P&W) Railroad and Route 100, this former interurban heavy rail line is powered by third rail and has high level platforms. Daily ridership averaged 10,895 in 2018.[11] It runs from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. seven days a week.[12]

Trolley and light rail[edit]

A white single-car trolley in street running.
SEPTA Route T4's subway and surface trolley bound for Darby Township
  • T (formerly the Subway–Surface Trolley Lines): Five "trains"—T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 (formerly routes 10, 34, 13, 11, and 36 respectively) run in a subway in Center City and fan out along on street-level as surface trolley lines in West and Southwest Philadelphia, and the Darby and Yeadon boroughs of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Weekday ridership averaged 62,242 in 2018.[11] Trains T1, T3 and T5 run 24 hours a day, while Trains T2 and T4 run from roughly 4:30 am to 2 am.
  • D (formerly the Media–Sharon Hill Line or Suburban Trolley lines): two trolley routes in Delaware County which run mostly on private rights-of-way but also have some street running (D1 and D2 Trains). Daily ridership averaged 8,476 in 2018.[11]
  • G (formerly Route 15 or the Girard Avenue Line) last operated in January 2020.[13] 4 out of the 18 trolleys passed internal mechanical inspection before everything was converted to bus.[14] Train G1 is slated to restart trolley service in early 2024.[15]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ B2 Express does not have its own line infrastructure, it shares the Broad Street subway with the B1 Local

References[edit]

  1. ^ Chang, David (September 7, 2021). "The SEPTA Metro? L Lines and B Lines? SEPTA Proposes New Signage and Name Changes". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "SEPTA Proposing Series Of Changes Aimed To Make System Easier For Riders, Including Name Change To 'Metro'". CBS News. September 9, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Saunders, Brian A. (November 14, 2023). "SEPTA to update transit lines with simpler, more consistent signage". PhillyVoice. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Wayfinding Recommendations". SEPTA. Archived from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  5. ^ Fitzgerald, Thomas (September 7, 2021). "SEPTA proposes renaming its city rail lines to help everyone get around". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  6. ^ "Design Concept Feedback". planning.septa.org. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  7. ^ "Philadelphia's transit agency launches revamped website ahead of transition to 'SEPTA Metro'". 6abc Philadelphia. December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  8. ^ Lynch, Cherise (December 6, 2023). "SEPTA set to launch new user-friendly website". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  9. ^ Lutz, Chandler (November 14, 2023). "SEPTA Metro aims to make Philadelphia's public transportation system easier to use". CBS News. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  10. ^ Fitzgerald, Thomas (February 14, 2024). "SEPTA's first signs of 'Metro' rebranding have arrived". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Service Plan" (PDF). septa.org. July 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 27, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  12. ^ a b "SEPTA". SEPTA. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  13. ^ "SEPTA Shuts Down Route 15 Streetcar". January 27, 2020.
  14. ^ Briggs, Ryan (2020-01-21). "SEPTA taking Girard Ave. trolley off the rails; 78 percent of fleet can't pass inspection". Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  15. ^ Sharber, Cory (November 14, 2023). "SEPTA's historic Route 15 trolleys 'very close' to returning". WHYY. Retrieved January 26, 2024.

External links[edit]

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