SEPTA’s newly upgraded Wissahickon Transit Center, which had its grand reopening back in mid-December, is a shot in the arm for our area.
The new state-of the-art Center, which services 11 bus lines, moves the neighborhood hub into the 21st century.
The new $50 facility was built next door to the decaying one along Ridge Ave near Kelly Drive that had serviced our area for decades.
Not only is it larger by quantum leaps, but it has welcoming additions that were sorely missed in its previous incarnation.
In addition to being Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant, it also provides such passenger-friendly amenities like improved lighting, signs, security cameras, bike racks, benches, public restrooms and a warm, weather-protected place to sit while waiting for one’s bus.
The Route 38 bus is one of several lines that cross paths with the $50 million facility. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
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The Route 38 bus is one of several lines that cross paths with the $50 million facility. (Photo by Rick Cawley)
The new crossroads facility, which began construction in 2023, is just down the road from the Wissahickon Regional Rail stop.
According to SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer, the depot generally handles about 5,000 riders on a normal weekday.
Sauer boasted that the WTC is “our largest customer-centric bus project to date.”
Having such a facility gem is a major feather in SEPTA’s cap, who have seen a surge in ridership since the pandemic days.
Ridge Avenue motorists will be happy too as road widening allows a left-turn lane for buses into the station without causing a traffic backup headache in the already heavily-travelled corridor.
Improved crosswalks for pedestrians and cyclists will also add an extra layer of safety for all concerned.
So, what’s not to like? That’s what the SEPTA folks are hoping for.
They believe that the transit center will continue to lay the groundwork for a new era of bus service, one that will be more user-friendly and promote more confidence in SEPTA’s mission to provide a reliable and relatively inexpensive travel network within its domain.