Station Review #128: Cheltenham-Ogontz Loop (SEPTA)


Cheltenham-Ogontz Loop is a Bus station on Cheltenham Avenue and Ogontz Avenue (State route 309) in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, operated by SEPTA. 


Bus Services

There are multiple bus routes that stop at Cheltenham-Ogontz Loop, these include: 
 
  • 6 - Cheltenham-Ogontz to Olney Transit Center: This bus goes down Ogontz Avenue towards Olney Transit Center, and has some of the highest ridership in the entire SEPTA network
  • 16 - City Hall to Cheltenham-Ogontz: In tandem with the 4 bus further south, the 16 is one of the buses that runs along Broad Street, paralleling the Broad Street Line, and connecting to almost every station north of City Hall, including Olney Transit Center. Only Fern Rock Transit Center is excluded here. This route was originally part of Route C.
  • 22 -  Warminster/Willow Grove to Olney Transit Center: This bus goes along Easton Road to Willow Grove Mall. About one trip an hour goes to Warminster. Warminster trips before 9:30 pm or so go to Charter Arms, and the ones afterwards short turn at the Warminster Walmart. This connects to Glenside station, as well as every single other Warminster line station except for Ardsley
  • 71 - Broad-Erie to Cheltenham-Ogontz: This bus goes from Erie station to Cheltenham-Ogontz Loop via Mount Pleasant and Mount Airy Avenues. This connects to Upsal, Carpenter, and Richard Allen Lane stations on the Chestnut Hill West line and Sedgwick station on the Chestnut Hill East Line. A few express trips a day run via Wayne Junction
  • 80 - EXPRESS Horsham to Olney Transit Center: This bus goes from the UPS Warehouse in Horsham to Olney Transit Center via Fitzwatertown and Jenkintown Roads. Its timed to only bring workers to their jobs at the UPS Warehouse from Olney in the early morning and back in the early evening. It only has about six trips a day. 
  • 81 - Broad-Erie to Cheltenham-Ogontz: Formerly the XH, This bus goes between Erie station and Cheltenham-Ogontz via Washington Lane, among other similar roads. This connects to the Washington Lane station on the Chestnut Hill East Line. There are also a few express trips a day that run via Wayne Junction 

Tour

The loop from Cheltenham Avenue

The loop isn't all that large, but it's still larger than most bus loops within the SEPTA system. 

The shelter for the 16 bus

The entirely facility consists of three lanes oriented at about a 45 degree angle to Cheltenham Avenue (or paralell to Ogontz Avenue), and one other lane perpendicular to Cheltenham Avenue. Each lane has its own shelter, with there also being a shelter on Cheltenham Avenue as well. 

Map of the 16 bus

The back of the loop facility

This is potentially some of the only usable space for layovers at Cheltenham-Ogontz Loop. 

TVM's

Very old sign

Shelter for the 22/80 buses

Bench

Route 80 bus map

Breakroom and bathroom for employees

Art piece

This feels like something that would be at an NJT station, like at Avandale for example. 

71 bus platform

Here is an example of one of the platforms themselves

Bus

Points of Interest Near Cheltenham-Ogontz Loop

There's very little nearby. There's a plaza that used to be a mall, a lot of stores along Ogontz Avenue, dense housing on the Philadelphia side of Cheltenham Avenue, and that's about it. 

Statistics


Name: Cheltenham-Ogontz Loop 
Agency: SEPTA
Line(s): 6, 16, 22, 71, 80, 81
Locality: Chelten Hills
City/Township: Cheltenham
County: Montgomery
State: Pennsylvania
Ridership: 1068 riders per average weekday (2024).

Amenity Checklist


Accessible: ✓
Bike racks: ✓ 
Bathrooms for employees: ✓
Bus Departure/Arrival Info (signs that update/screens): ×
Clean Station: ×
Easy to get around: ✓
Existence is justifiable: ✓
Indoor Shelters: ×
Maps: ✓
Multiple entrances/exits: ✓
Near places people are: ✓
Safe to use: ✓
Seating: ✓
Shelters: ✓ 
Station In Good Condition: ✓
Something related to fares: ✓
Ticket Offices: ×
TOD: ×
Updated Signage: ×

Final Verdict: 6/10

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