Station Review #64: Ellsworth-Federal (SEPTA)
Ellsworth-Federal is a station along SEPTA's Broad Street Line, specifically served only by the B1. Ellsworth-Federal is located on Broad Street, between Ellsworth and Federal Streets.
History
Ellsworth Street entrance
Ellsworth-Federal station was built in the late 1930s, much like the rest of the South Philadelphia stations of the Broad Street Subway. Outside of the history of the rest of the South Philadelphia stations - which will not be mentioned here, Ellsworth-Federal station has a lot of interesting things in its history. More than anything, it's name and location in themselves are incredibly interesting.
Those who know little about the history of the area will wonder why the station is not at the nearby large cross street of Washington Avenue. Those who do know more will realize that the station itself predates the time when Washington Avenue was much more than the right of way for the PRR Washington Avenue branch, which serviced all of the South Philadelphian factories along Washington Avenue. Historically, a lot of the ridership at this station came from those factory workers. It is this branch that influenced the City of Philadelphia to put a station between Ellsworth and Federal Streets rather than at Washington Avenue. I reality, the choice was either there or at Christian Street, and Christian street was much too close to Lombard-South station.
In the 1970s, the Washington Avenue branch was decommissioned, its tracks getting ripped out and replaced with car lanes. This signaled the resurgence of Washington Avenue as a major corridor. The last nail in the coffin for how things once were was in 2003, when the 63 bus was merged with the 64 bus. The 63 bus at the time went on Catharine and Bainbridge while the 64 went on Federal and Wharton. That year, the 63 was discontinued and the 64 was moved to run on Washington Avenue instead.
Tour
Outside of the storied history, Ellsworth-Federal is like most other South Philadelphia Broad Street Subway stations. It just so happens to be a badly located one, as Washington Avenue
Staircase, like every other station
A hallway in/out
The bike racks
The sign in the tiles
Mezzanine
It seems like between the years of 1930 and 1950, the City of Philadelphia just wanted to add all of these giant mezzanines. Both the southern Broad Street Subway and the Locust Street Subway (PATCO) have these, and for both they are almost always completely empty.
At least you can leave quickly...
Ellsworth-Federal station has a single island platform and nothing else. The island platform has everything one would expect from it.
Note that this station is not accessible at all whatsoever.
Transit Connections
Despite what everyone would expect, Ellsworth-Federal is actually a small bus hub, with four buses stopping near the station. These include:
Route 4: This bus goes from Fern Rock Transportation Center to NRG station, much like the BSL. It first goes along 10th/11th, then 10th/9th, then just 9th to Rising Sun, before spending the rest of its route along Broad Street.
Route 27: This is an express bus route, going from Broad and Carpenter all the way to Plymouth Meeting Mall via I-76 and Ridge Pike. This route links to Wisaahickon Transit Center.
Route 32: This route goes from Broad and Carpenter, meandering through Fairmount and Brewerytown before going along 33rd Street and then Henry Avenue to Roxborough. This route connects to the 33rd-Dauphin bus loop.
Route 64: This route goes between the 50th and Parkside loop and Pier 70 shopping center. This is both the local crosstown for Washington Avenue and the local vertical for 46th street, though it really is more of one for 48th street.
Points of Interest Around Ellsworth-Federal station
There are a couple of points of interest around Ellsworth-Federal station. These include:
• The Broad Street Diner
• Multiple very tall apartments
• Lincoln Square, a specific apartment that also has a lot of shopping things attached to it
• The National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia, a very ornate snd pretty looking church
Yeah, you're definitely in South Philadelphia by this point.
Statistics:
Name: Ellsworth-Federal
Agency: SEPTA
Line(s): B1
Locality: Passyunk Square
City/Township: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia
State: Pennsylvania
Ridership: 3715 Per average weekday (2017)
Amenity Checklist:
Accessible: ×
Bathrooms: ×
Bicycle parking: ✓
Clean Station: ✓
Connections to other transit routes: [
Easy passage for each side: ✓
Fare Payment Kiosks (if applicable): ✓
Good Wayfinding: ✓
Indoor Shelters: ✓
Maps: ✓
Multiple entrances/exits: ✓
Adequate Parking: ✓
Seating: ✓
Shelters: ✓
Station In Good Condition: ✓
Ticket Kiosks (if applicable): ✓
Ticket Offices: ✓
TOD: ✓
Train Departure/Arrival Info (signs that update/screens): ×
Updated/Useful Signage: ✓
Verdict: 3/10
Maybe it'd be a better station if it was accessible and situated two blocks north of where it actually is. Too bad that's not possible.
Station Directory
Olney Transportation Center [****]
Logan [* ]
Wyoming [* ]
Hunting Park [* ]
Erie [****]
Allegheny [* ]
North Philadelphia [* * ]
Susquehanna - Dauphin [* ]
Cecil B. Moore [* ]
Girard [****]
Fairmount [* * ]
B3 trains continue to Chinatown and 8th-Market
Spring Garden [** *]
Race - Vine [** *]
City Hall [** *]
Walnut - Locust [** *]
Lombard - South [* ]
Ellsworth - Federal [* ]
Tasker - Morris [* ]
Snyder [* ]
Oregon [* ]
NRG [* *]
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