SEPTA Route 56
Encyclopedia
SEPTA's Trolley Route 56, the Erie & Torresdale Avenues Line is a streetcar
line and is currently operated by bus
, it is operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
(SEPTA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The line runs between the Tioga and Tacony
neighborhoods primarily along Erie Avenue and Torresdale Avenue. Route 56 was one of three "suspended" by the SEPTA board effective February 23, 1992. The two others, routes 15 and 23
, were then also operated by buses as of the same date; however, the Route 15 trolley was restored on September 4, 2005.
and 22nd Street, better known as the Venango Loop. Five blocks later at 17th Street, SEPTA Route 53
joins Route 56 along Erie Avenue. Route 53 is another former street car that was converted into a bus route. Both routes intersect with Broad Street
and connect to Erie Station on the Broad Street Subway Line, as well as Germantown Avenue, which carries Route 23. Route 53 leaves Erie at 10th Street turning north, while Route 56 continues towards its eastbound destination. Route 53's original terminus was the Luzerne Depot, which was shared by Route 56 for storage. East of Sedgley Avenue near 2nd Street, Route 56 runs parallel to the Trenton Line on the line's north side. The east corners of the intersection of Front Street
, contain sites such as St. Christopher's Hospital
and a local ball park known as Lighthouse Field.
When Route 56 meets Erie-Torresdale Station at Kensington Avenue in Juniata Park
, Erie Avenue turns into Torresdale Avenue. The station is an elevated section of the Market-Frankford Line
above Kensington Avenue. East of the station, a loop for Route 56 exists on the south side of the intersections of East Hunting Park Avenue and Frankford Avenue, which includes bridges over Tacony Creek for Torresdale and Frankford Avenues. While most of Erie Avenue and Torresdale Avenue between Kensington and Frankford Avenues contain visible signs of the former streetcar line within the pavement, east of this loop few remnants of the former trolley line remain.
South of the line, Bridge Street and Harbison Avenue both lead to Bridesburg (SEPTA station)
and I-95
, although Harbison Avenue is better able to handle the traffic. Robbins and Levrick Streets lead to and from the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge
as do two streets at the terminus of the line. Disston Street is an otherwise non-notable residential street that leads to Tacony (SEPTA station)
. Prior to the line's eastern terminus, Torresdale Avenue becomes part of eastbound PA 73
, which turns onto southbound Princeton Avenue on its way to I-95 and the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. The line finally ends at the Torresdale-Cottman Loop, on the corner of Torresdale and Cottman Avenues, where the eastbound and westbound sections of PA 73 merge.
Route 56 was suspended as a trolley in 1992, and replaced by bus service, along with Route 23. In 1997, SEPTA attempted to make this suspension permanent, but cancelled the proposal after public outcry from commuters. As of 2009, all buses are ADA
-compliant, and contain bicycle racks. "Night Owl" service is also available. Plans are currently under way to restore the line as light-rail service between 2011 and 2018.
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
line and is currently operated by bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
, it is operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is a metropolitan transportation authority that operates various forms of public transit—bus, subway and elevated rail, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolley bus—that serve 3.9 million people in and around Philadelphia,...
(SEPTA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The line runs between the Tioga and Tacony
Tacony, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tacony is a historic neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia, about from downtown Philadelphia. It is the oldest continuously occupied neighborhood in Philadelphia. It is bounded by Frankford Avenue on the northwest, Cottman Avenue on the northeast, Levick Street on the southwest, and the...
neighborhoods primarily along Erie Avenue and Torresdale Avenue. Route 56 was one of three "suspended" by the SEPTA board effective February 23, 1992. The two others, routes 15 and 23
SEPTA Route 23
SEPTA's Trolley Route 23, the Germantown Avenue-11th & 12th Streets Line is a former streetcar line and currently operated by bus. It is operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
, were then also operated by buses as of the same date; however, the Route 15 trolley was restored on September 4, 2005.
Route description
Route 56 begins at West Hunting Park AvenueU.S. Route 13 in Pennsylvania
U.S. Route 13 passes through the Philadelphia metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route enters the state from Delaware in Marcus Hook, Delaware County. It continues in a northeasterly direction through Delaware County, passes through Philadelphia, and continues into Bucks...
and 22nd Street, better known as the Venango Loop. Five blocks later at 17th Street, SEPTA Route 53
SEPTA Route 53
SEPTA Route 53 is a former street car line and current bus route, operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The line runs between the West Mount Airy and Hunting Park neighborhoods primarily along Wayne Avenue.-Route...
joins Route 56 along Erie Avenue. Route 53 is another former street car that was converted into a bus route. Both routes intersect with Broad Street
Broad Street (Philadelphia)
Broad Street is a major arterial street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is nearly 13 miles long.It is Pennsylvania Route 611 along its entire length with the exception of its northernmost part between Old York Road and Pennsylvania Route 309 and the southernmost part south of Interstate 95...
and connect to Erie Station on the Broad Street Subway Line, as well as Germantown Avenue, which carries Route 23. Route 53 leaves Erie at 10th Street turning north, while Route 56 continues towards its eastbound destination. Route 53's original terminus was the Luzerne Depot, which was shared by Route 56 for storage. East of Sedgley Avenue near 2nd Street, Route 56 runs parallel to the Trenton Line on the line's north side. The east corners of the intersection of Front Street
Front Street (Philadelphia)
Front Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a north-south street running parallel to and near the Delaware River. It was constructed when Philadelphia was laid out by William Penn in 1682....
, contain sites such as St. Christopher's Hospital
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is a 189 bed non-sectarian children’s hospital located near Center City, Philadelphia. It is one of the oldest full-service hospitals in the United States totally dedicated to the care of children. St...
and a local ball park known as Lighthouse Field.
When Route 56 meets Erie-Torresdale Station at Kensington Avenue in Juniata Park
Juniata, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Juniata is a neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia, which is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; however, it is sometimes said to be in North Philadelphia because it lies west of Frankford Creek. Juniata is located south of the Juniata Golf Club in Tacony Creek Park...
, Erie Avenue turns into Torresdale Avenue. The station is an elevated section of the Market-Frankford Line
Market-Frankford Line
The Market–Frankford Line is a rapid transit line in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority .-Route:The Market–Frankford Line begins at 69th Street Transportation Center, in Upper Darby...
above Kensington Avenue. East of the station, a loop for Route 56 exists on the south side of the intersections of East Hunting Park Avenue and Frankford Avenue, which includes bridges over Tacony Creek for Torresdale and Frankford Avenues. While most of Erie Avenue and Torresdale Avenue between Kensington and Frankford Avenues contain visible signs of the former streetcar line within the pavement, east of this loop few remnants of the former trolley line remain.
South of the line, Bridge Street and Harbison Avenue both lead to Bridesburg (SEPTA station)
Bridesburg (SEPTA station)
Bridesburg Station is a SEPTA Regional Rail station at Bridge Street and Harbison Avenue, in the Bridesburg neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
and I-95
Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania
Interstate 95 is an Interstate highway running from Miami, Florida north to Houlton, Maine. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the route is known by many as the Delaware Expressway, but is officially named The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. and locally known as "95"...
, although Harbison Avenue is better able to handle the traffic. Robbins and Levrick Streets lead to and from the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge
Tacony-Palmyra Bridge
The Tacony–Palmyra Bridge is a combination steel arch, double-leaf bascule bridge across the Delaware River, connecting New Jersey Route 73 in Palmyra, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Route 73 in the Tacony section of Philadelphia. The bridge has a total length of 3,659 feet and spans 2,324 feet . It...
as do two streets at the terminus of the line. Disston Street is an otherwise non-notable residential street that leads to Tacony (SEPTA station)
Tacony (SEPTA station)
Tacony Station is a SEPTA Regional Rail station at Disston and Keystone Streets, at Disston Park in the Tacony neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
. Prior to the line's eastern terminus, Torresdale Avenue becomes part of eastbound PA 73
Pennsylvania Route 73
Pennsylvania Route 73 is a 62.51 miles long east–west state highway in southeastern Pennsylvania. It runs from Pennsylvania Route 61 in Leesport to the New Jersey state line on the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge in Philadelphia, where it continues as New Jersey Route 73.Predating the Interstate...
, which turns onto southbound Princeton Avenue on its way to I-95 and the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. The line finally ends at the Torresdale-Cottman Loop, on the corner of Torresdale and Cottman Avenues, where the eastbound and westbound sections of PA 73 merge.
History
Route 56 was established in 1907 and originally ran from the intersection of West Hunting Park Avenue and Pulaski Avenue then down Pulaski to Erie where it ended at 2nd Street. In 1926, the western teminus was moved to its present location; in 1928, the eastern terminus was moved northeast to the Torresdale-Cottman Loop.Route 56 was suspended as a trolley in 1992, and replaced by bus service, along with Route 23. In 1997, SEPTA attempted to make this suspension permanent, but cancelled the proposal after public outcry from commuters. As of 2009, all buses are ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a law that was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1990. It was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009....
-compliant, and contain bicycle racks. "Night Owl" service is also available. Plans are currently under way to restore the line as light-rail service between 2011 and 2018.