by Andrew Grahl/photos by the author
Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) reopened its Franklin Square Station in Philadelphia with public fanfare and a ribbon cutting Thursday, April 3, 2025. Franklin Square Station first opened in 1936 as part of the Bridge Line operation between 8th & Market in Philadelphia and Broadway in Camden. Franklin Square station has been opened and closed sporadically since its first opening, and received its last major update during the last period of public access between 1976 and 1979. A Bicentennial-era headhouse was demolished in 1983.
The work covered under this latest rehab enables the station to become fully functional and in-line with existing PATCO stations. The project addresses improvements to the station’s civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical systems, and provides access in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Planning for the station’s reopening began in 2009; construction began in 2022 and was completed in March 2025.
ABOVE: PATCO 1072, built by Canadian Vickers and recently rebuilt by Alstom, has just returned from the ceremonial first trip with dignitaries and the public, shown at Franklin Square, Thursday, April 3, 2025. The ceremonial first trip was a round-trip over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to Camden. A $29.3 million renovation reopened the Franklin Square station, which had been closed since 1979.
The station sits on the edge of Franklin Square Park and serves a revitalized neighborhood, which is the primary driver of the station reopening. The new headhouse features transparent, speckled smoked glass designed to prevent bird collisions. The underground platform and concourses feature energy-efficient LED lighting and modern communication systems, while preserving the station’s original 1930s green-and-white tiles. Initial ridership is forecast to be 1,500 riders daily.
