5th Street/Independence Hall station

For other uses, see 5th Street station.

5th Street/Independence Hall
5th Street/Independence Hall station platform
General information
Location	5th and Market Streets Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates	39°57′02″N 75°08′56″W
Owned by	City of Philadelphia
Operated by	SEPTA
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Connections	SEPTA City Bus: 17, 33, 38, 44, 48
Construction
Structure type	Underground
Accessible	Yes
History
Opened	August 3, 1908 (August 3, 1908)[1][2][3]
Previous names	5th Street (1908–2016)[4]
Services
Preceding station SEPTA Following station 8th Street toward 69th Street T.C. Market–Frankford Line 2nd Street toward Frankford T.C.
Pending services Preceding station SEPTA Metro Following station 8th–Market toward 69th Street 2nd Street toward Frankford
Location

5th Street/Independence Hall station is a subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the intersection of 5th and Market Streets, 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]

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 platform in 2018

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 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.

Image gallery

• 
  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.

External links

• SEPTA – 5th Street/Independence Hall station
• 5th Street-Independence Station images (World-NYCSubway.org)
• 5th Street entrance from Google Maps Street View