Station Review #90: Norristown - Elm Street (SEPTA)


Norristown - Elm Street is a station on SEPTA's Manayunk-Norristown line. The station is located on Markley and Elm Streets in Norristown's West End neighborhood. Elm Street is one of three stations in Norristown, along with Main Street and Norristown Transportation Center. 

History

The history of Norristown-Elm Street is very unclear. Originally, there was a station at Elm Street that was possibly built in 1872 by the North Penn Railroad. This station was torn down in 1899. Later on, electrification of the western end of the Stony Creek branch in Norristown occured in 1933, and this station was made on what was originally a siding as the terminus for most electric service on the Reading Railroad's services between Philadelphia and Norristown. 

Even after further diesel passenger service on the Stony Creek Branch stopped, trains still go to Elm Street. 

At some point in the 2000s, Norristown-Elm Street was rebuilt. There are no surviving pictures of what it looked like before then. 


Tour

Elm Street only has one platform. Despite this, the station is actually fairly decent. 

Countdown clock

The shelter itself

Bench inside the shelter

A map

The schedule, as well as other special reminders

The junction 

Elm Street exists at a junction with the Stony Creek Branch, which runs between Norristown and Lansdale. Elm Street itself is along a pocket track. Despite having one platform, this is still designed to be a two track terminal since the pocket track is double tracked at the end. 

Ramp

Parking

Elm Street has a 214 space parking lot. 

A train at the pocket track

Bus Connections

Bus connections are clearly not Elm Street's strong suit. There is one connection at Elm Street: 

90: Norristown Transportation Center to Plymouth Meeting Mall. Much unlike the 98, the 90 also serves Norristown's West End neighborhood, Norristown State Hospital, Norristown Farm Park, Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital, and East Norriton Township in general. This bus is hourly. There are plans to replace the bus with a microtransit zone that serves Norristown itself. 

The problem with accessing this bus connection is that Elm Street is currently under construction to replace its bridge over Stony Creek. As a result, the intersection at Elm and Markely is closed, making reaching the 90 a very difficult ordeal. 

Points of Interest in Norristown's West End

There are a couple of things to note near this station, mainly a few corner stores, Norristown Farm Park, and Elmwood Park Zoo. However, much of this is difficult to reach due to the construction at Elm Street.

The commercial corridor at Marshall street has a lot of businesses - especially restaurants from Central America and the Caribbean.

Statistics


Name: Norristown - Elm Street
Agency: SEPTA
Line(s): Manayunk-Norristown Line 
Locality: West End
Municipality: Norristown
County: Montgomery 
State: PA
Ridership: 554 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: ✓
TVMs: ×
Ticket Offices: ×
TOD: ×
Train Departure/Arrival Info (countdown clocks): ✓
Updated/Useful Signage: ✓

Final Verdict: 7/10

Station Directory


--------Philadelphia County--------

''''''''Center City Zone''''''''

Penn Medicine

30th Street

Suburban

Jefferson (Market East)

Temple University 

''''''''Zone 1''''''''

North Broad

Allegheny (MNL) 

East Falls

''''''''Zone 2''''''''

Wissahickon

Manayunk

Ivy Ridge

--------Montgomery County--------

Miquon

''''''''Zone 3''''''''

Spring Mill

Conshohocken

Norristown Transportation Center

Norristown-Main Street

Norristown-Elm Street

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