Norristown Transportation Center

"Norristown station" redirects here. For other uses, see Norristown.

Norristown Transportation Center (soon to be known as Norristown Transit Center^[3]) is a two-level multimodal public transportation regional hub located in Norristown, Pennsylvania and operated by SEPTA. It opened in 1989, replacing the older Norristown High Speed Line (Route 100) terminus one block away at Main and Swede Streets, and integrated the former Reading Company's DeKalb Street Norristown railroad station (built 1933) into its structure. A plaque embedded in the sidewalk between the bus lane and Lafayette Street commemorates the location of one of the columns of the dismantled segment of the Philadelphia and Western Railroad (P&W) trestle.

Norristown Transportation Center
A Manayunk/Norristown Line train passes under the Norristown High Speed Line platform
General information
Location	DeKalb and East Lafayette Streets Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S. United States
Coordinates	40°06′47″N 75°20′42″W
Owned by	SEPTA
Line(s)	Norristown Branch
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Connections	SEPTA Suburban Bus: 90, 91, 93, 96, 97, 98, 99, 131 Schuylkill River Trail
Construction
Parking	520 space parking garage 136 Free surface parking 44 with permits
Bicycle facilities	4 racks
Accessible	Yes (NHSL platforms only)
Other information
Fare zone	3 (Regional Rail)
History
Rebuilt	June 15, 1989[1]
Electrified	25 Hz (Regional Rail) Third rail (NHSL)
Passengers
2017	856 boardings 781 alightings (weekday average)[2] (Regional Rail)
Rank	20 of 146 (Regional Rail)
Services
Preceding station SEPTA Following station Norristown–Main Street toward Norristown–Elm Street Manayunk/​Norristown Line Conshohocken toward Penn Medicine Terminus Norristown High Speed Line Bridgeport toward 69th Street T.C.
Former services Preceding station SEPTA Following station Valley Forge Park toward Pottsville Pottsville Line North Broad Street toward Reading Terminal Preceding station Lehigh Valley Transit Company Following station Main Street toward Allentown Liberty Bell High Speed Line Until 1951 Bridgeport via Rink station toward 69th Street Preceding station Reading Railroad Following station Abrams toward Pottsville Main Line Conshohocken toward Philadelphia Main Street toward Elm Street Norristown Branch Mogees toward Philadelphia
Future services (2024) Preceding station SEPTA Following station Norristown–Main Street toward Norristown–Elm Street Manayunk/​Norristown Line Conshohocken toward Penn Medicine Preceding station SEPTA Metro Following station Terminus Bridgeport toward 69th Street
Track layout Legend NOR to Norristown–Elm Street to Harrisburg Line to 69th Street T.C. platform; ends NOR platform NOR to Center City
Location

Regional rail service

Norristown High Speed Line station

SEPTA Frontier District buses at night

An outbound Manayunk/Norristown Line train stops at the Norristown Transportation Center

Old Norristown station configuration. The Lehigh Valley Transit Company's Liberty Bell High Speed Line was a continuation of the existing Norristown High Speed Line along Swede Road and then E. Airy Street before turning onto Markley Street where it meets up with the existing Manayunk/Norristown Line. The current Manayunk/Norristown Line continued to Valley Forge instead of going to Main Street along Lafayette Street.

The Norristown Transportation Center is a stop on the Manayunk/Norristown Regional Rail Line, which offers service to Center City Philadelphia via Conshohocken and Manayunk.

In 2017, the regional rail service at Norristown Transportation Center had a weekday average of 856 boardings and 781 alightings.^[4]

Norristown High Speed Line

Main article: Norristown High Speed Line

Norristown Transportation Center is the final stop on the Norristown High Speed Line, which runs from 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby to Norristown.

Bus routes

In addition to rail service, Norristown Transportation Center serves as the center of the Frontier District of SEPTA's Suburban Division bus routes, particularly the routes operating in Montgomery County. Bus routes serving NTC operate with a "timed transfer"; for the most part, buses leave at the same time, to maximize possible transfers between routes. These routes serve areas of Norristown and other areas in Montgomery County.

SEPTA Frontier District routes that serve Norristown Transportation Center are:

• 90 - to Plymouth Meeting Mall via Penn Square
• 91 - to SCI Phoenix via Eagleville (Saturdays only)
• 93 - to Pottstown via Collegeville and Philadelphia Premium Outlets
• 96- to Lansdale via Montgomery Mall and North Wales
• 97 - to Chestnut Hill via Barren Hill and Conshohocken
• 98 - to Blue Bell via Plymouth Meeting Mall
• 99 - to Phoenixville via King of Prussia Transit Center at King of Prussia mall, Audubon and Oaks
• 131 - to Audubon and Valley Forge Corporate Complex via Jeffersonvill

NTC is located at DeKalb and Lafayette Streets near the banks of the Schuylkill River and boasts a parking garage (built in 2008).^[5] Along with the opening of the new garage, intercity bus service by Bieber Transportation Group, Greyhound, and Martz Trailways was introduced to Norristown.^[6][7] Bieber Transportation Group ended service to Norristown on April 1, 2018 while Martz Trailways service ended May 31, 2018.^[8]

Norristown Transportation Center was formerly an important transfer point between electric and Budd Rail Diesel Car (RDCs) service to points north, such as Valley Forge, Phoenixville Pottstown, Reading and Pottsville. Pottsville line service was eliminated in 1981 due to budget cuts. Proposed restoration of service beyond Norristown, dubbed the Schuylkill Valley Metro, was canceled in 2006 after SEPTA failed to acquire necessary funding.

References

1. "High-Speed Rail Service Makes Debut at Norristown Center". The Philadelphia Inquirer. June 16, 1989. p. 2B. Retrieved February 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Fiscal Year 2021 Service Plan Update". SEPTA. June 2020. p. 24. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
3. "SEPTA Metro Network Map" (PDF). September 19, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
4. "SEPTA (May 2014). Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Service Plan. p. 61" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2014. (539 KB)
5. "SEPTA unveils new Norristown parking garage". Progressive Railroading. April 7, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
6. "Thanks to Bieber, buses rolling again in Norristown". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 22, 2011. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015.
7. "New Norristown Transportation Center Bus Terminal Open For Business". SEPTA. March 22, 2011.
8. "Philadelphia Schedule Update". Martz Group. May 29, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2019.

External links

• SEPTA – Norristown Transportation Center
• SEPTA – Norristown Transportation Center map (archived)
• Norristown Transportation Center (The Subway Nut)
• DeKalb Street entrance from Google Maps Street View