Philadelphia’s Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) reopened the Franklin Square Subway Station, which has been closed for decades. 

The new station connects workers in New Jersey to economic opportunities in Philadelphia and eases reverse commuting to the growing job center in Camden, NJ. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) supported the $29.3 million project with a $13.5 million BUILD grant announced in 2019. 

Celebrating the Reopening 

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Regional Administrator Terry Garcia Crews joined state and local officials to celebrate the reopening of the station. 

 “Opening Franklin Square station restores a link for thousands of riders to jobs and visitors to historic sites in Center City,” said Garcia Crews. “And by modernizing the station with elevators, escalators, and ramps and better lighting, PATCO has made it safer and fully accessible for all.” 

PATCO’s Franklin Square Station

Originally built in 1936, the Franklin Square Station was closed and re-opened a few times in the decades that followed but has been closed since 1979. 

PATCO predicts between 1,300 and 1,500 daily commuters will use the new station to access both sides of the river. 

The new station includes: 

• Full Accessibility: Fully ADA compliant, featuring an elevator, escalator, and ramps.  

• Modernized Systems: New mechanical, electrical, and communication systems.  

• Historical Preservation: Retains the station’s original 1930s green and white subway tiles, cleaned and restored to preserve its historic character.