PD Primer - PennDesign - University of Pennsylvania

getting around
PUBLiC tRAnSit
Bus drivers tend to operate as though SEPTA doles
out bonuses for the fastest time and fewest passengers.
It’s not uncommon for drivers to cruise by passengers
waiting obviously and hopefully underneath
bus-stop signs. If you’re waiting alone, the best bet is
to flag down the bus with a big wave or a one-time
$1,000 bonus.
SUBWAY
The fifth-largest city in the U.S. has but two lines: a
north-south route under Broad Street and an eastwest
Market Street line. The latter runs elevated
outside of Center City and is often referred to as The
El or the BlUE lINE, while the Broad Street subway
is the ORaNGE lINE.
Both lines date from the early 20th century and have
not aged well. The trains themselves are not old, but
can be criminally dirty. Still, the subway is frequent
and fast—the express ride from 34th Street to Center
City takes just a few minutes. Service starts around
5am, with the last eastbound train leaving 34th Street
soon after midnight. After that, Night Owl buses
duplicate the route above ground every 15 minutes.
tRoLLEYS
They run like a bus on the surface in West Philly,
then go underground, calling at subway-style stops in
University City and Center City. How can that not
be cool? The GREEN lINE (also known as subway-
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PUBLiC tRAnSit
surface) is not as fast as the subway but, because several
lines share the tunnels, very frequent. Trolleys stop at
22nd and 19th Streets in Center City (the blue line
does not), making them an uber-convenient way to get
from campus to Rittenhouse Square. Trolleys only go as
far east as 13th Street. A second drawback: on weekends,
service through the tunnels often stops around
10pm when trolleys divert to 40th and Market for connection
with the blue line.
REGionAL RAiL
To see where all the money went instead of the subways,
take a comfy ride to the ’burbs on SEPTA’s crown
jewel. Trains stop at 30th Street Station, Suburban Station
(at 16th St and JFK Blvd) and Market East Station
(Market Street between 10th and 12th Streets) before
fanning out as far as Trenton and Wilmington. The R1
line runs to the airport every half-hour and stops at
University City station near Franklin Field.
FARES
Paying for a SEPTA ride means choosing between being
fleeced for expediency ($2.00 in cash) or making a
special trip for a better deal. TOKENS come from machines,
station booths (generally only on weekdays) and
above-ground stores. Our advice is to go to a SEPTA
sales office like the one inside 30th Street Station and
use a credit card to buy a bushel. Your silver horde will
make you the envy of your peers. Tokens buy a one-way
ride on all buses, subways, and trolleys, but regional
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