Philadelphia Subways: The Ins and Outs
Olivia MacDonald
Vol. 1 Issue 1 | Transit Magazine | O. MacDonald | Spring 2022
In 1907, Philadelphia was introduced to their very own subway system. At
first, the Market Street line was the only transportation line, designed to reduce trolley congestion, connect suburbians with transit lines to Center City, and create a larger market for department stores downtown. In the early 1920s and 30s, construction on the Broad Street line began, extending from North Philly to South Street, began. Both lines were opened and fully functioning by 1933. These perpendicular lines connect at the City Hall station, where riders can switch on and off. By 1964, SEPTA was created. It serves five counties, including Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Chester, and Delaware. The system also extends to Delaware and New Jersey.
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Below: Signs showing the transit maps for riders; Philadelphia, Pa.
Since SEPTA’s creation, there have been numerous factors that have hindered ridership. For example, the population of people without housing who are staying in subway stations has become a larger problem in recent years. SEPTA has addressed this issue and reassured riders there would be solutions to come
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Most SEPTA workers have their hands full on their day-to-day shifts, with answering questions from confused riders, keeping the peace with unruly customers, and more. However, the people of Philadelphia think the city could be doing more.
To give Philadelphia the benefit of the doubt, every populated city’s subway system has run into some kind of issue. For example, just a few weeks ago, New York City’s subway was shocked by a shooting in Brooklyn. An extremely crowded city like NYC and Philadelphia face backlash and crime sprees every week. However, it’s time the cities step up and fix this ongoing conflict.
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In addition, Philadelphia has the reputation to be negligent with keeping stations clean and trashless. This has become an issue for riders considering purchasing SEPTA Key Cards. Alex Giovanopoulos, Temple University student, says, “Last year, I bought a key card, but this year, with the amount of trash and grime on the subways and in the station, forget about it.”
As he waited to board the oncoming car, Adam Segal explained, “The system now is much better than it has been in years past. I rarely see people without housing staying in stations anymore. Philly still has a lot of work to do, but I think there’s progress.” 5 | Transit Magazine
Below: A woman waits for her train, while carrying Scott’s toilet paper; April 2022.
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Below: Josh Robertson pulls his suitcase after he disembarks his train; April 2022.
The city tries its best to keep its stations clean and orderly. This hand sanitizing station was a rare find. Graffiti lines most of the walls and doors in the stations. Most of what you see is not appealing to the eye.
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Philadelphia’s subways are alive. They provide transportation, shelter, and a way of life to thousands of riders everyday. Whether it be a ride home from school, a commute to work at 8 A.M. , or a place of work for a family of dancers looking for some extra cash, the subway has seen it all. Ask around. Almost everyone you know has some anecdote of an instance where they rode the subway and something memorable happened. Witnessing a crime, helping an elder on and off, or simply just trying to get home after a long shift, the subway is never boring. The characters of the subway are ever changing. From a disgruntled employee coming home from a 9 to 5, an out-of-towner visiting friends, or a child coming home from elementary school, the constant flow of people never stops. Sit and watch for a few minutes. You will be fascinated by the people, commotion, and chaos that ensues in Philadelphia’s subway stations and cars.
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