Station Review #36: Delaware Valley University (SEPTA)


Delaware Valley University is a station on SEPTA's Lansdale - Doylestown line, located in Farm School, Doylestown Township, PA, immediately outside Doylestown Borough. 

History

Old station shack wasn't much different

This station was built by the Reading Railroad at some point in the late 1890s for National Farm School, and agricultural school. Unsurprisingly, this caused the station to be named Farm School, which caused the town itself to be named Farm School. 

National Farm School ended up changing its name a few times, shown in the timeline below

1896: National Farm School - first name
1948: National Agricultural College
1960: Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture
1989: Delaware Valley College 
2014: Delaware Valley University - Current Name

Naturally, the train station changed names a few times as well to reflect this. While the university was changing names a few times, the train station ended up getting rebuilt some time around 2012 or so. Im 2014, the station was renamed to Delaware Valley University, to reflect the university itself being renamed.

Tour

The entire station

There is not much at this station at all. This picture shows basically everything at the station. 

The shelter 

Inside the shelter itself, there are two benches and two key card readers, and a trash bin.

Are those wasp nests?

As one can tell, the entire station shelter is made of wood and is unique compared to many of the other stations due to its design. 

The platforms are wide enough to fit one train car and are full high platforms. 

There is a crossing at the station, one that also says "Caution: a train is approaching the crossing. please do not cross the tracks." 

Land Usage

No, this is not a park and ride

Delaware Valley University's land use is awful, despite the station not being made to even need good land use. This station is a college station, it's made to bring people to and from the university. Even with that in mind, this station needs better land usage

Outside the parking lot

Not a fun time, I would say. 

Bus Connections

DART West bus, note that the DART West bus always stops at the sign near the beige one-floor building that looks like a house that advertises the SEPTA bus connection. 

There are actually bus connections here, both from BTC's Doylestown DART service. 

Doylestown DART: Bus that loops around Doylestown and also goes to the university next to the station

DART West: Bus route that goes between Delaware Valley University and Brittany Farms - Highlands via Chalfont and New Britain. 

Note that there are no marked bus stops for either bus, so you must guess where the buses will stop.

Statistics


Name: Delaware Valley University 
Agency: SEPTA
Line(s): Lansdale - Doylestown 
Locality: Farm School
City/Township: Doylestown Township 
County: Bucks
Ridership: 77 Boardings and 83 Alightings per average weekday


Amenities Checklist:


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

Final Verdict: 3/10


I want to give this station a higher score but just can't get myself to. It's unfortunate that the land use had to be as bad as it is. 

 --------Philadelphia County--------
''''''''Center City Zone''''''''
30th Street
Suburban
Jefferson (Market East)
''''''''Zone 1''''''''
Wayne Junction
--------Montgomery County--------
''''''''Zone 2''''''''
Melrose Park (Weekends Only)
Elkins Park (Weekends Only)
''''''''Zone 3''''''''
Jenkintown - Wyncote
Glenside
North Hills
Oreland
Fort Washington
Ambler
Pennlyn
Gwynedd Valley 
''''''''Zone 4''''''''
North Wales
Pennbrook
Lansdale
9th Street
--------Bucks County--------
Chalfont
New Britain
Delaware Valley University



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