SEPTA Route 53
Encyclopedia
SEPTA Route 53 is a former street car line and current bus
route, operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
(SEPTA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The line runs between the West Mount Airy
and Hunting Park
neighborhoods primarily along Wayne Avenue.
. The street and the line wind through a restidential area, then straightens out before it cross over the Chestnut Hill West Line
, near Tulpehocken (SEPTA station)
. No direct connection to the station exists, and the same goes for SEPTA Bus Route 65. From there the street runs in fairly close proximinty to the Chestnut Hill Line, until it moves to the south, past Chelten Avenue, while Wayne and Route 53 maintain the same course.
The scenery becomes less residential as it gets closer to Wayne Junction
, where the line turns south on Clarissa Street which goes under the Roosevelt Expressway, and runs along the east side of a massive railroad yard then intersects with West Hunting Park Avenue
. The line moves to West Hunting Park for one block, then moves to 17th Street until it intersects with Erie Avenue, which carries SEPTA Route 56
, another former street car converted into a bus route. West-to-northbound buses use Pulaski Road between Erie Avenue and 17th Street, as did the trolleys. Both routes connected to Erie Station on the Broad Street Subway Line, as well as Germantwon Avenue, which carries SEPTA Route 23
. While Route 56 continues northeast to the Torresdale-Cottman Loop in Tacony
, Route 53 takes a left turn on 10th Street, and heads north towards the former Luzerne Depot, which became an all bus garage, and is now a cardboard recycling plant.
Route 53 was "temporarily" converted to buses in June of 1981 because of a bridge reconstruction project. The conversion was made permanent May 16, 1985, and it was actually extended north of the former Luzerne Depot to Hunting Park (BSL station). Today, the northbound route passes Luzerne Street and makes a left turn at Lycoming Street, where it shortly encounters the southbound segment of the route on Old York Road, only to turn left at East Hunting Park Avenue, where it reaches Broad Street near the Hunting Park BSL station again. The line heads northeast along Roosevelt Boulevard, then turns on Bristol Street, only to head south on Old York Road again, until it reaches Luzerne Street, and makes another left on its way to the intersection with 10th Street.
As of 2008, all buses along this route are ADA
-compliant, and contain bicycle racks. While plans are currently under way to restore the Route 56 line as light-rail service between 2011 and 2018, no such proposal exists for Route 53.
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...
route, 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 West Mount Airy
Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mount Airy is a neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania.-Boundaries:Mount Airy is bounded on the northwest by the Cresheim Valley, which is part of Fairmount Park. Beyond this lies Chestnut Hill. On the west side is the Wissahickon Gorge, which is also part of Fairmount...
and Hunting Park
Hunting Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hunting Park is a neighborhood in the North Philadelphia section of the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Like many North Philadelphia neighborhoods, it grew mainly in the 1920s and 1940s. The neighborhood's namesake is large park which is a regular location for recreation for many...
neighborhoods primarily along Wayne Avenue.
Route description
Route 53 starts at Carpenter's Woods in West Mount AiryMount Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mount Airy is a neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania.-Boundaries:Mount Airy is bounded on the northwest by the Cresheim Valley, which is part of Fairmount Park. Beyond this lies Chestnut Hill. On the west side is the Wissahickon Gorge, which is also part of Fairmount...
. The street and the line wind through a restidential area, then straightens out before it cross over the Chestnut Hill West Line
Chestnut Hill West Line
The Chestnut Hill West Line , is a route of the SEPTA Regional Rail system. The route serves the northwestern section of Philadelphia with service to Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill...
, near Tulpehocken (SEPTA station)
Tulpehocken (SEPTA station)
Tulpehocken Station is a SEPTA Regional Rail station at 314 West Tulpehocken Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This station is also known as Walnut Lane Station...
. No direct connection to the station exists, and the same goes for SEPTA Bus Route 65. From there the street runs in fairly close proximinty to the Chestnut Hill Line, until it moves to the south, past Chelten Avenue, while Wayne and Route 53 maintain the same course.
The scenery becomes less residential as it gets closer to Wayne Junction
Wayne Junction (SEPTA station)
Wayne Junction is a SEPTA Regional Rail station located at 4481 Wayne Avenue, extending along Windrim Avenue to Germantown Avenue, bordering the Nicetown and Germantown neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Station:...
, where the line turns south on Clarissa Street which goes under the Roosevelt Expressway, and runs along the east side of a massive railroad yard then intersects with West Hunting Park Avenue
U.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...
. The line moves to West Hunting Park for one block, then moves to 17th Street until it intersects with Erie Avenue, which carries SEPTA Route 56
SEPTA Route 56
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 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The line runs between the Tioga and Tacony neighborhoods...
, another former street car converted into a bus route. West-to-northbound buses use Pulaski Road between Erie Avenue and 17th Street, as did the trolleys. Both routes connected to Erie Station on the Broad Street Subway Line, as well as Germantwon Avenue, which carries SEPTA Route 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...
. While Route 56 continues northeast to the Torresdale-Cottman Loop in 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...
, Route 53 takes a left turn on 10th Street, and heads north towards the former Luzerne Depot, which became an all bus garage, and is now a cardboard recycling plant.
Route 53 was "temporarily" converted to buses in June of 1981 because of a bridge reconstruction project. The conversion was made permanent May 16, 1985, and it was actually extended north of the former Luzerne Depot to Hunting Park (BSL station). Today, the northbound route passes Luzerne Street and makes a left turn at Lycoming Street, where it shortly encounters the southbound segment of the route on Old York Road, only to turn left at East Hunting Park Avenue, where it reaches Broad Street near the Hunting Park BSL station again. The line heads northeast along Roosevelt Boulevard, then turns on Bristol Street, only to head south on Old York Road again, until it reaches Luzerne Street, and makes another left on its way to the intersection with 10th Street.
As of 2008, all buses along this route 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. While plans are currently under way to restore the Route 56 line as light-rail service between 2011 and 2018, no such proposal exists for Route 53.