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Route 56
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| Overview | |
| Operator | Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority |
| Began service | 1907 |
| Route | |
| Locale | Philadelphia |
| Communities served | Nicetown, Hunting Park, Juniata Park, Frankford, Tacony |
| Start | Vernango Loop |
| Via | Erie Avenue, Torresdale Avenue |
| End | Torresdale-Cottman Loop |
SEPTA's Trolley Route 56, the Erie and Torresdale Avenues Line is a former streetcar line and is currently operated by bus. It is operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The line runs between the Tioga and Tacony neighborhoods primarily along Erie Avenue and Torresdale Avenue. Route 56 was one of three "suspended" by the SEPTA board effective February 23, 1992. The two others, routes 15 and 23, were then also operated by buses as of the same date; however, the Route 15 trolley was restored on September 4, 2005.
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Route 56 begins at West Hunting Park Avenue and 22nd Street, better known as the Venango Loop. Five blocks later at 17th Street, SEPTA Route 53 joins Route 56 along Erie Avenue. Route 53 is another former street car that was converted into a bus route. Both routes intersect with Broad Street and connect to Erie Station on the Broad Street Subway Line, as well as Germantown Avenue, which carries Route 23. Route 53 leaves Erie at 10th Street turning north, while Route 56 continues towards its eastbound destination. Route 53's original terminus was the Luzerne Depot, which was shared by Route 56 for storage. East of Sedgley Avenue near 2nd Street, Route 56 runs parallel to the Trenton Line on the line's north side. The east corners of the intersection of Front Street, contain sites such as St. Christopher's Hospital and a local ball park known as Lighthouse Field.
When Route 56 meets Erie-Torresdale Station at Kensington Avenue in Juniata Park, Erie Avenue turns into Torresdale Avenue. The station is an elevated section of the Market-Frankford Line above Kensington Avenue. East of the station, a loop for Route 56 exists on the south side of the intersections of East Hunting Park Avenue and Frankford Avenue, which includes bridges over Tacony Creek for Torresdale and Frankford Avenues. While most of Erie Avenue and Torresdale Avenue between Kensington and Frankford Avenues contain visible signs of the former streetcar line within the pavement, east of this loop few remnants of the former trolley line remain.
South of the line, Bridge Street and Harbison Avenue both lead to Bridesburg (SEPTA station) and I-95, although Harbison Avenue is better able to handle the traffic. Robbins and Levrick Streets lead to and from the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge as do two streets at the terminus of the line. Disston Street is an otherwise non-notable residential street that leads to Tacony (SEPTA station). Prior to the line's eastern terminus, Torresdale Avenue becomes part of eastbound PA 73, which turns onto southbound Princeton Avenue on its way to I-95 and the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. The line finally ends at the Torresdale-Cottman Loop, on the corner of Torresdale and Cottman Avenues, where the eastbound and westbound sections of PA 73 merge.
Route 56 was established in 1907 and originally ran from the intersection of West Hunting Park Avenue and Pulaski Avenue then down Pulaski to Erie where it ended at 2nd Street. In 1926, the western teminus was moved to its present location; in 1928, the eastern terminus was moved northeast to the Torresdale-Cottman Loop.
Route 56 was suspended as a trolley in 1992, and replaced by bus service, along with Route 23. In 1997, SEPTA attempted to make this suspension permanent, but cancelled the proposal after public outcry from commuters. As of 2009, all buses are ADA-compliant, and contain bicycle racks. "Night Owl" service is also available.[1] Plans are currently under way to restore the line as light-rail service between 2011 and 2018.[2]
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