Station Review #158: Richard Allen Lane (SEPTA)


Richard Allen Lane is a SEPTA station on the Chestnut Hill West line located on Allen Lane in the West Mount Airy neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia. 

History

Richard Allen Lane was built sometime around the 1880s, though the exact time when during this is unknown. It's likely that the station was built as an infill station. The station was named after the road Allen Lane, which itself was named after local mansion owner William Allen. In 1890 or so, a depot was built at the station to accommodate a new influx of passengers from the at the time newly relocated Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. 
 
In the 1990s, a project was put underway to rehabilitate this depot and station, the first part being to actually rehabilitate everything, with the second part to make the station accessible. Both of these were completed by 2011. The Allen Lane station was renamed to Richard Allen Lane station in 2017, after Allen Lane was rededicated to Richard Allen, the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. 

Tour

Train at the platform

Richard Allen Lane station is fully accessible and has full high level platforms

The opposite platform

Looking south

Covered bridge between the platforms 

Both platforms from above

Depot from above

A ramp from above

SEPTA really likes long ramps at these types of stations

Area under a shelter

Overpass from one of the ramps

On one of the ramps

Nearby grass and garden

Historical plaques 

The depot from behind, showing the parking lot

The former station depot is now a café. 

Bus Connections 

There is one DIY transfer you can do:

23 - 11th-Locust to Chestnut Hill: This bus runs via 11th/12th Streets, and then Germantown Avenue. Its an extremely frequent bus and runs paralell to the train albeit further to the northeast of it. This isn't the best station to connect to this bus at though. 

Points of Interest Near Richard Allen Lane Station


Among other things, there's downtown Mount Airy two blocks away along Germantown Avenue, and this is the best station ti access it from. There's a lot of stores and restaurants there, among other things. Also nearby is a small seminary. On Allens Lane, there is a Wawa. Who knows how much longer that Wawa is going to be there for. 

Besides that, there are houses, a few large apartment towers, the start of the cresheim trail, and a church megacomplex that has among other things a plumbing service, a doctors office, and a dance school. Learning of the existence of this megacomplex confounded me.

Statistics

Name: Richard Allen Lane
Agency: SEPTA
Line(s): Chestnut Hill West
Locality: West Mount Airy
Municipality: Philadelphia
County: Philadelphia
State: Pennsylvania
Ridership: 375 per average weekday (2024)

Amenity Checklist

Accessible: ✓
Bathrooms: ×
Bicycle parking: ✓
Clean Station: ✓
Connections to other transit routes: ✓
Easy passage for each side: ✓
Existence is justifiable: ✓
Fare Payment Kiosks (if applicable): ✓
Good Wayfinding: ✓
Indoor Shelters: ×
Maps: ✓
Multiple entrances/exits: ✓
Adequate Parking: ✓
Safe to use: ✓
Seating: ✓
Shelters: ✓
Station In Good Condition: ✓
TVMs: ✓
Ticket Offices: ×
TOD: ✓
Train Departure/Arrival Info (countdown clocks): ✓
Updated/Useful Signage: ✓

Final Verdict: 8.5/10

Station Directory

--------Philadelphia County--------
''''''''Center City Zone''''''''
Jefferson
Suburban
30th Street
''''''''Zone 1''''''''
Queen Lane
''''''''Zone 2''''''''
Upsal
Carpenter
Richard Allen Lane
St. Martins
Chestnut Hill West

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