5th Street station (SEPTA)

5th Street/Independence Hall station is a subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the corner of 5th and Market Street served by SEPTA's Market-Frankford Line. The station serves multiple notable Philadelphia landmarks including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center, the National Museum of American Jewish History, and the Philadelphia Bourse.[5]

5th Street
Fifth Street station platform
Location5th & Market Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39.9505°N 75.1488°W / 39.9505; -75.1488
Owned byCity of Philadelphia (leased to SEPTA)
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
ConnectionsSEPTA City Bus: 17, 33, 38, 44, 48
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
Disabled accessYes
History
OpenedAugust 3, 1908[1][2][3]
Electrified700 volts DC third rail
Previous names5th Street[4]
Services
Preceding station SEPTA Following station
8th Street
toward 69th Street
 Market–Frankford Line 2nd Street
toward Frankford
Location
5th Street
Location within Philadelphia

The station originally opened as 5th Street station and was renamed by SEPTA on June 29, 2016.[4][6]

The station is also served by numerous SEPTA bus routes, the 17, 33, 38, 44, and 48.

History

The station opened August 3, 1908 as part of the first extension of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company's Market Street Subway.[1][3] The line had originally opened a year earlier between 69th Street and 15th Street station.[1][3]

The station was expanded in the 1950s along with the creation of the Independence Mall, and was last rehabilitated in 1974 in preparation for the United States Bicentennial.[2][7] Elevators were installed in 2010, making the station accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act.[7]

In July 2016, the city approved designs to rehabilitate the station, including new signage and lighting, rebuilt staircases and headhouses, as well as new artwork.[2] The project began fall 2018 and it is scheduled for completion in fall 2020, coming in at an estimated total cost of $19.5 million. During the construction project, trains were bypassing the station.[7][8]

Station layout
The station platform in 2018

The station has two side platforms with separate fare control on either side. 5th Street is the only station on the line in Center City that does not have a mezzanine crossover between the two platforms.

G Street level Entrance/exit, buses
P
Platform level		 Side platform with fare control 
Westbound ←      Market–Frankford Line toward 69th Street (8th Street)
Eastbound →      Market–Frankford Line toward Frankford (2nd Street) →
Side platform with fare control 
  • 5th Street entrance
  • 5th Street elevator
  • The now-demolished KYW AM Radio & TV building, with a subway entrance hidden in the foreground.

References
  1. Cox, Harold E. (1967). May, Jack (ed.). The Road from Upper Darby. The Story of the Market Street Subway-Elevated. New York, NY: Electric Railroaders' Association. p. 16. OCLC 54770701.
  2. Hahn, Ashley (July 13, 2016). "Art Commission approves rehab of 5th Street El station, denies digital displays at SEPTA entrances". PlanPhilly. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  3. Hepp, John (2013). "Subways and Elevated Lines". The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia.
  4. Brey, Jared (June 29, 2016). "SEPTA to Rename 5th Street Station". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  5. philadelphiabuildings.org
  6. Hickey, Brian (June 30, 2016). "SEPTA renames 5th Street Station after history, not corporate branding". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  7. "SEPTA, 5th Street Station Rehabilitation". Burns Engineering. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  8. "5th Street Station (Market Frankford Line)". SEPTA. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
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