Station Review #1: Forest Hills Station (SEPTA)

Hi, I'll preface this with an apology for not using this blog much, I originally didn't want to use the blog for unrelated reasons and then I promptly forgot it existed, whoopsies! Anyways, onto the actual content

The sign at the front

Forest Hills is a SEPTA commuter rail station on the West Trenton Line. This station is between Philmont & Somerton Stations, although much closer to Somerton station in distance. Most average people forget about the station's existence, but not transit fans like me. Those who fall into this catagory feel a sense of dislike, if not hatred for this station and it's close proximity to two other stations. After going to this station, it's not exactly hard to see why

This station is on Byberry Road, in the Somerton neighborhood of the Far Northeast. Here, there is another station for the West Trenton Line, Somerton Station, which is in walking distance. Another stipulation of the curse of being in Somerton is that it's a zone 3 station. 

With all of this in mind, you'd maybe expect the station to have a lot of amenities, no? Unfortunately for you, Forest Hills Station has very few amenities. In fact, such little is at this train station that I was able to take a photo of the entire train station with very few issues. 
View of the entire train station

Each side of the station had two boxy shelters, common for a lot of small SEPTA stations. Unlike most of those types of shelters, this one is much larger, able to house a double sided bench, a map, a sign for departures and arrivals, two trash cans, and ample standing space in the shelter for when it rains. 

A shelter for the center city bound side of the station. 

As shown in the picture below, this station is also served by SEPTA bus route 84, a very circuitous bus route that links the Bustleton and County Line area with Philadelphia Mills, numerous industrial parks, and Frankford Transportation Center. 

A northbound bus stop for the 84

Oddly enough, this station has a lot of trabsit oriented development, though you wouldn't easily be able to see that from the view of the the crossing, which to those who dont look to the left looks more like TON, or transit oriented nothing. 

There's a lumber company here at least

Those who do look to their left see multiple apartment buildings immediately next to the station. The tallest of these apartment buildings is 4 stories tall, which is a welcome departure from all of the single family housing in this area. It's not much, but it's better than some stations (cough cough Meadowbrook cough cough). I honestly wouldn't be surprised if these apartment buildings are one of the only reasons why the station hasn't closed down yet.
Bland looking, but functional. This building does the job.

Unfortunately, the transit oriented development doesn't extend very far outward. After a couple minutes of walking you reach single family homes on Byberry road again. 
Byberry Road

Nearby Points of Interest:

Not much. There is a good spot for gardening nearby, and a cemetery nearby as well (I doubt most people would be willing to go there though for very obvious reasons.)

Rural/Small station Amenities:


Some vestige of accessibility: ✓
Clean: ✓
Connections to other transit routes: ✓
Easy passage to either side: ✓ 
Fare Payment Kiosks: ✓
Lighting: ✓ 
Maps: ✓ 
Parking: ✓ 
Shelters: ✓
Seating: ✓ 
Station in Good Condition: ✓
Train Departure/Arrival Info: ✓ 
Updated Signage: ✓ 

Final verdict:

With regards to everything shown here, I give Forest Hills Station a 3.5/10, though it would get a higher score if it wasn't super close to Somerton Station. This station is doomed to be low in ridership due to its location, which in my opinion is quite a shame. But honestly, I've been to worse train stations than this one, and I don't entirely think this station deserves the flak many other transit advocates give it, even if the reasoning for said flak is sound reasoning. 

Station Directory

--------Philadephia County--------
''''''''Center City Zone''''''''
Penn Medicine
30th Street
Suburban
Jefferson (Market Street)
''''''''Zone 1''''''''
--------Montgomery County--------
''''''''Zone 2''''''''
Melrose Park
Elkins Park
''''''''Zone 3''''''''
Jenkintown/Wyncote
Rydal
Bethayres
Philmont
--------Philadephia County--------
Forest Hills
--------Bucks County--------
''''''''Zone 4''''''''
Langhorne
Woodbourne
Yardley
--------New Jersey--------
--------Mercer County--------
''''''''NJ Zone''''''''
West Trenton 

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