8th Street station (Philadelphia)

The station first opened August 3, 1908 as part of the first extension of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company's Market Street Subway.[1][2] The rest of the line had originally opened a year earlier between 69th Street and City Hall.[1][2]

ADA-accessible access between a MFL platform and the mezzanine

The PATCO platform was originally the Market Street station on the Ridge–8th Street Subway and opened December 21, 1932, operating north under Ridge Avenue to terminate Girard station.[4] Service on this platform also began operating via the Bridge Line over the Delaware River Bridge on June 7, 1936, terminating at Broadway station in Camden, New Jersey, utilizing a tunnel connection built in 1932 to connect to the 1926-built bridge, now known as the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

On February 10, 1952, the Locust Street Subway opened, extending the lower level tracks and pushing the terminus of the line south and west to 16th and Locust streets. Trains alternated service via the Ridge–8th Street Subway and Bridge Line until August 23, 1968, when Ridge–8th Street service was suspended. On February 15, 1969, service along the line was restored to a new single-track station one level above the existing station, and both were renamed 8th & Market.

The station complex was made ADA accessible in 2009. One of the escalators was replaced from spring 2015 to spring 2016 as part of SEPTA's Center City Concourse Improvement Program.[5]

Broad–Ridge Spur platform

The Market–Frankford Line's 8th Street station is located on the upper platform level. There are two single platforms on the north and south sides of the tracks. Passengers may transfer between platforms via an upper mezzanine both inside and outside the paid area of the station. This mezzanine area also connects to the lower level of the Fashion District Philadelphia shopping mall. As a Market–Frankford Line station, columns and accent work throughout the two platforms are painted blue.

The Broad–Ridge Spur's 8th & Market station is the southern terminus of the line. There is a single track and platform located perpendicular and adjacent to the Market–Frankford westbound platform. There is no free connection to the Market–Frankford Line, as the MFL has a free connection to the main Broad Street Line at City Hall station.

A PATCO train on the lower platform level

Trains on this platform level formerly used a now-abandoned track to connect to the Locust Street subway (now the PATCO Speedline). The station was originally named Market Street, as evidenced by the tile work on the station, and the line was originally named the "Ridge–8th subway" due to its southern terminus at this station. As a Broad Street Line station, columns and accent work on the platform are painted orange.

The lower level of the complex houses PATCO's 8th & Market station. PATCO Speedline trains stop at an island platform perpendicular to the Market–Frankford platforms. There are two fare control barriers located directly underneath each Market–Frankford Line platform. Each fare control area contains a staircase, an elevator, and "up" escalator. Each PATCO platform has a distinct accent color: the 8th & Market accent color is teal.

A street entrance showing all three lines

The Broad–Ridge Spur and Market–Frankford Line platforms, while on the same level, are perpendicular to each other.

G	Street level	Entrances/exits, buses
B1	Mezzanine	Crossover between MFL platforms, PATCO fare control, Fashion District mall
B2	Side platform with fare control
	Westbound	←      Market–Frankford Line toward 69th Street (11th Street)
	Eastbound	→      Market–Frankford Line toward Frankford (5th Street/Independence Hall) →
	Side platform with fare control
	Northbound	←      Broad–Ridge Spur termination track →      Broad–Ridge Spur toward Olney or Fern Rock (Chinatown) →
	Side platform with fare control
B3	Westbound	←      PATCO Speedline toward 15–16th & Locust (9–10th & Locust) ←      PATCO Speedline late nights toward 15–16th & Locust (12–13th & Locust)
	Island platform
	Eastbound	←      PATCO Speedline toward Lindenwold (City Hall) → ← (No service: Franklin Square)

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  MFL platform signage
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  Mezzanine crossover between MFL platforms
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  Market Street tile work, showing the former name of the Broad–Ridge Spur station
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  Broad Ridge Spur platform
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  Station tracks and platform
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  PATCO station
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  PATCO station
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  8th & Market station

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 8th Street station (Philadelphia).

• SEPTA – 8th Street Station (Market–Frankford Line)
• SEPTA – 8th & Market Street (Broad–Ridge Spur)
• PATCO – 8th & Market Street Station
• 8th Street entrance from Google Maps Street View