The Chestnut Hill West Line is a commuter rail line in the SEPTA Regional Rail network. It connects Northwest Philadelphia , including the eponymous neighborhood of Chestnut Hill , West Mount Airy , and Germantown , to Center City .
15-671: Chestnut Hill Branch refers to the following rail lines: Chestnut Hill Branch (Pennsylvania Railroad) , now the Chestnut Hill West Branch Chestnut Hill Branch (Reading Company) , now the Chestnut Hill East Branch Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Chestnut Hill Branch . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
30-739: Is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transportation systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT . Headed by an Administrator who is appointed by the President of the United States , the FTA functions through Washington, D.C. headquarters office and ten regional offices which assist transit agencies in all states,
45-525: Is essential. But at least as important are steps to promote economic efficiency and livability in areas of future development. Our national welfare therefore requires the provision of good urban transportation, with the properly balanced use of private vehicles and modern mass transport to help shape as well as serve urban growth." President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 into law, which passed
60-828: The District of Columbia , and the territories. Until 1991, it was known as the Urban Mass Transportation Administration ( UMTA ). Public transportation includes buses , subways , light rail , commuter rail , monorail , passenger ferry boats, trolleys , inclined railways , and people movers . The federal government, through the FTA, provides financial assistance to develop new transit systems and improve, maintain, and operate existing systems. The FTA oversees grants to state and local transit providers, primarily through its ten regional offices. These providers are responsible for managing their programs in accordance with federal requirements, and
75-597: The House by a vote of 212-129 and cleared the Senate 52–41, creating the Urban Mass Transportation Administration . The agency was charged with providing federal assistance for mass transit projects, including an initial $ 375 million in capital assistance over three years as mandated by the act. In 1991, the agency was renamed the Federal Transit Administration . The current acting Administrator
90-603: The Urban Mass Transportation Administration . SEPTA activated positive train control on the Chestnut Hill West Line on August 22, 2016. On April 9, 2020, the line was suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic , though North Philadelphia station was still being served by other rail services. In addition to reduced ridership from the COVID-19 pandemic, service on the Chestnut Hill West Line
105-652: The Chestnut Hill East, and the two terminals are rather close. The line is fully grade-separated . The line was originally opened June 11, 1884 by the Philadelphia, Germantown and Chestnut Hill Railroad , and was operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad until 1968. Electrified service began on March 30, 1918. The Penn Central operated it until 1976, turning operations over to Conrail until 1983, when SEPTA took over. Between 1984–2010
120-597: The City of Philadelphia. Its terminal is named Chestnut Hill West to distinguish it from the end of the Chestnut Hill East Line (a competing line of the Reading Company until 1976, when SEPTA assumed operations). Some stations are less than half a mile apart, a characteristic more commonly seen in an urban rapid transit system rather than a commuter rail line. The line runs roughly parallel to
135-408: The FTA is responsible for ensuring that grantees follow federal mandates along with statutory and administrative requirements. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy sent a major transportation message to the U.S. Congress . It called for the establishment of a program of federal capital assistance for mass transportation. President Kennedy stated, "To conserve and enhance values in existing urban areas
150-535: The Fox Chase Line) to run timetable north and ex-Pennsylvania lines to run timetable south. Between June 26, 1987 – December 17, 1989 service terminated at Allen Lane with shuttle buses serving St. Martin's, Highland and Chestnut Hill West because of unsafe conditions on the Cresheim Valley bridge. The original iron bridge dated to 1884 and was replaced with a $ 7.6 million steel structure financed by
165-512: The following station stops after leaving 30th Street Station ; stations indicated with gray background are closed. The entirety of the route is located within Philadelphia city limits. Yearly ridership on the Chestnut Hill West Line between FY 2013–FY 2019 remained steady around 1.3–1.6 million before collapsing during the COVID-19 pandemic . Urban Mass Transportation Administration The Federal Transit Administration ( FTA )
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#1732772763445180-626: The former Reading Company side of the Center City Commuter Connection . As of 2022 , most weekday Chestnut Hill West Line trains pass through Center City and terminate at Temple University while most weekend trains continue through Center City to the West Trenton Line . While the line runs generally northbound between 30th Street and Chestnut Hill West, it is considered to run timetable south. This anomaly exists because SEPTA considers ex-Reading lines (including
195-541: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chestnut_Hill_Branch&oldid=1092404696 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Chestnut Hill Branch (Pennsylvania Railroad) The Chestnut Hill West Line branches off from Amtrak 's Northeast Corridor at North Philadelphia station and runs entirely within
210-567: The route was designated R8 Chestnut Hill West as part of SEPTA's diametrical reorganization of its lines. Chestnut Hill West trains operated through the city center to the Fox Chase Line . Plans had called for the line to be paired with West Chester/Elwyn Line and designated R3 , but this depended on a never-built Swampoodle Connection from the Chestnut Hill West Line to the Norristown Line ; this would have connected it to
225-534: Was also suspended due to Amtrak construction along the Northeast Corridor that the line uses for part of its route. Service on the Chestnut Hill West Line resumed on March 8, 2021 on a limited schedule, with service running Monday through Friday. Weekend service was restored on December 19, 2021. As of 2024, SEPTA has made considerations to discontinue service on the line due to low ridership and systemwide budget cuts. The Chestnut Hill West makes
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