The Reading Viaduct , also called The Rail Park , is a disused elevated rail line in the Callowhill district of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , United States that has been partly transformed into a rail trail .
74-530: In 2010, the Center City District and a new community organization, Friends of the Rail Park, began to evaluate options to convert the abandoned viaduct into an elevated park. On October 31, 2016, construction began on the plan's Phase 1, which added a boardwalk, benches, landscaping, and swings along a quarter-mile (400-meter) section of the viaduct from Broad Street to Callowhill Street; it also reinforced
148-587: A Baptist temple, it has now become a prime part of the Avenue of the Arts. Where Broad Street intersects with Clearfield Street in North Philadelphia is the exact location of the 40th Parallel . One of the busiest streets in the country, Broad Street is shut down for the annual 10-mile (16 km) Broad Street Run . Passing by some of Philadelphia's most famous landmarks, the course averages over 35,000 participants
222-541: A $ 8.7 million project to brighten North Broad with 41 stainless steel light masts. In early 2025, the Philadelphia Parking Authority will install speed cameras along Broad Street. Southern Boulevard Parkway is a landscaped segment of South Broad Street in Philadelphia , connecting Marconi Plaza and FDR Park from Oregon Avenue at Broad Street southward five intersections to the gateway entrance of
296-405: A block east of Broad Street, on the old freight line. The spur from the new viaduct was later built from the line just east of this station. The other Reading line, originally the Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad , and now used for passenger service by SEPTA , ran north on 9th Street from the east-west line on Willow Street. Its passenger station was at Ninth and Green, again where
370-589: A bustling boulevard to a cultural magnet for music and the arts. On January 1, 1901, the very first Mummers Day parade was held, becoming a staple of Philadelphia culture. As jazz and gospel music grew in popularity in Philadelphia with the Great Migration of the early 1900s, numerous jazz and blues clubs opened in the city, including the Uptown Theater , which was built on North Broad Street in 1927. By
444-528: A championship parade was for the Philadelphia Flyers in 1974 . Since the 1980s, residents and visitors have often parked illegally in the striped median strip of Broad Street, which is paved in the same way as the road surface and is not raised, particularly in South Philadelphia , with the city and parking authority rarely enforcing the law against doing so except during major events such as
518-405: A dirt road dating back to 1793. The Philadelphia and West Chester Turnpike Company was created to build a toll road between the two places in 1848. The turnpike was built as a plank road between Philadelphia and Newtown Square in the 1850s before becoming a stone road in the 1880s. A horse-drawn rail line was built along part of the turnpike in the 1850s and a trolley service was introduced in
592-533: A few blocks at the north end, the viaduct still exists. At Callowhill Junction, the City Branch turns west to join the former Reading Company main line at Belmont Junction. The main line of the Philadelphia and Reading Railway (originally the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad and Northern Liberties and Penn Township Railroad) came into Philadelphia on the southwest side of the Schuylkill River and crossed at
666-543: A four-lane road. US 202 and PA 3 were routed onto a one-way pair in West Chester along Market and Gay streets by 1959. By 1960, PA 3 was rerouted to follow Cobbs Creek Parkway and Baltimore Avenue to end at US 13 at the intersection of Baltimore and Whitby avenues in Southwest Philadelphia . The route was realigned to follow Chestnut and Walnut streets to US 13 at 44th and 43rd streets by 1970. Also by this time,
740-555: A mix of fields and woodland with some homes, crossing the Ridley Creek before coming to a junction with Delchester Road. PA 3 enters Edgmont Township in Delaware County as it passes to the north of Ridley Creek State Park . The road continues east with some homes and businesses, intersecting Providence Road. After passing to the south of a shopping center, the route crosses Crum Creek into Newtown Township and heads south of
814-523: A partial cloverleaf interchange with I-476 . Past the I-476 interchange, PA 3 intersects Lawrence Road and crosses the Darby Creek into Haverford Township , where another section of Lawrence Road splits to the north. The road continues east past homes and businesses as it passes through the community of Havertown , reaching a junction with Eagle Road . PA 3 has an intersection with Manoa Road as it passes to
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#1732849010309888-478: A point northwest of downtown (this line is now used only by freight). It then passed into a tunnel under Pennsylvania Avenue and turned east just north of Callowhill Street. The original alignment turned south along Broad Street, with a passenger station at Broad and Vine. The line continued east past Broad Street for freight to the Delaware River , using Willow Street. The passenger station was later moved to half
962-470: A stone road by 1885. The Philadelphia and West Chester Traction Company established a trolley service along the West Chester Pike between 63rd Street in Philadelphia and Newtown Square in 1895. Steam dummies were first used but electric trolley cars were introduced a year later. The trolley line was extended west to West Chester in 1898. The trolley line followed the south side of the turnpike. Following
1036-492: A three-lane road with a center left-turn lane . At this point, SEPTA's Market–Frankford Line runs underneath Market Street, with SEPTA's Subway–Surface Trolley Lines joining at 36th Street. Eastbound PA 3 continues east on one-way Chestnut Street. The route passes several multistory commercial buildings as it runs through the northern part of the Drexel University campus. At 33rd Street, eastbound PA 3 turns north and joins
1110-469: A thriving urban residential community, countryside recreation and the focal location point for regional metropolitan spectator sporting events. The Boulevard was utilized as the main entrance and central roadway in the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition , a world's fair hosted in Philadelphia, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence , and
1184-693: A year. Broad Street from Oregon Avenue at Marconi Plaza to City Hall , in South Philadelphia and Center City , is the location of the Mummers Parade , which has been held annually every New Year's Day since 1901. Broad Street often serves as the main parade route for Philadelphia sports championship parades, most recently for the Eagles Super Bowl LII victory. During the Phillies 2008 World Series victory parade, an estimated two million people lined Broad Street. The largest gathering for
1258-502: Is Pennsylvania Route 611 along its entire length with the exception of its northernmost part between Old York Road and Pennsylvania Route 309 (Cheltenham Avenue) and the southernmost part south of Interstate 95 . Broad Street runs along a north–south axis between 13th Street and 15th Street, containing what would otherwise be known as 14th Street in the Philadelphia grid plan . It is interrupted by Philadelphia City Hall , which stands where Broad and Market Street would intersect in
1332-549: Is a 24.3-mile (39.1 km) state highway located in the southeastern portion of Pennsylvania . The route runs from U.S. Route 322 Business (US 322 Bus.) in West Chester east to PA 611 ( Broad Street ) in Philadelphia . The route begins in downtown West Chester and heads east out of the borough as a one-way pair of streets. Between West Chester and Upper Darby , PA 3 follows a four-lane divided highway named West Chester Pike through suburban areas. Along this stretch,
1406-817: Is merely referred to as part of Broad Street. Broad Street is home to several Philadelphia cultural landmarks. Broad Street between Spruce and Market Streets is known as the Avenue of the Arts , and includes the Academy of Music , and the Kimmel Center . Two blocks north of City Hall is the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts , and further north is the New Freedom Theatre . The South Philadelphia Sports Complex , near Broad's south end along Southern Boulevard Parkway ,
1480-448: Is served by many public transit routes, including SEPTA 's Broad Street Line subway and several SEPTA city bus routes . As of 2023, the entire length of Broad Street is part of Philadelphia's High Injury Network , the small fraction of city streets on which the majority of traffic deaths and serious injuries occur. Broad Street has gone through various changes since its beginnings in colonial-era America . Thomas Holme introduced
1554-628: Is the site of Citizens Bank Park , Lincoln Financial Field , and the Wells Fargo Center . Demolished sports facilities located in this area were John F. Kennedy Stadium , the Spectrum , and Veterans Stadium . As a result, the Philadelphia Flyers are nicknamed the "Broad Street Bullies". South of the sports complex and interchanges with the Schuylkill Expressway (Interstate 76) and Interstate 95 , Broad Street has its southern terminus in
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#17328490103091628-750: The 63rd Street station on the Market–Frankford Line. The route follows four-lane undivided Cobbs Creek Parkway between woods along the creek to the west and urban development to the east before it splits east onto a one-way pair. The eastbound direction of PA 3 follows Chestnut Street while the westbound direction of PA 3 follows Walnut Street a block to the south. Chestnut Street carries three lanes of one-way eastbound traffic while Walnut Street carries two lanes of one-way westbound traffic. PA 3 follows Chestnut and Walnut street east through residential areas of West Philadelphia , passing several blocks of rowhouses with some businesses. Walnut Street passes to
1702-544: The Center City Commuter Connection tunnel at 20th Street. At the 20th Street intersection, both directions of PA 3 become one-way streets, with Market Street carrying three lanes of eastbound traffic, with the fourth right-most lane serving as a bus lane , and John F. Kennedy Boulevard carrying four lanes of westbound traffic as it heads into the Penn Center business district. At the 19th Street intersection,
1776-508: The East Branch Chester Creek and passing through the community of Goshen . PA 3 enters Westtown Township and reaches an intersection with PA 352 , forming a short concurrency with that route before PA 352 splits to the southeast. The road heads east through wooded areas with residential subdivisions as it continues into Willistown Township . The route intersects the eastern terminus of PA 926 and curves east-northeast through
1850-612: The Great Depression put these plans on hold and Broad Street Station and the "Chinese Wall" would continue to be used until 1952. The station and viaduct were demolished and Pennsylvania Boulevard was constructed in the 1950s, with the Penn Center business district built along the boulevard. As part of constructing the boulevard, a new bridge was built over the Schuylkill River leading to 30th Street Station. Pennsylvania Boulevard
1924-530: The Lakes-to-Sea Highway . Between downtown West Chester and Paoli Pike, PA 5 had a concurrency with US 122 / PA 52 (later US 202) along Gay Street. In 1937, PA 3 was commissioned between US 202/US 322/ PA 100 (now US 322 Bus.) in West Chester and US 30 in Philadelphia, replacing the previous PA 5 designation. In Philadelphia, PA 3 was shifted by 1940 to follow Chestnut and Walnut streets east before turning north on 5th and 6th streets to meet US 30 at
1998-677: The Rittenhouse Square area. Homes were designed in Victorian and Gothic styles. South Broad became center for the fine arts with the establishment of the Academy of Music in 1857. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and Adelphi Theater were also built during the same time period. Banks and offices grew in number around center city as well as high rise structures. The corner of Spring Garden housed Baldwin Locomotive Works founded by Matthias Baldwin in 1825. Baldwin's company
2072-520: The SEPTA Regional Rail system, and NJ Transit 's Atlantic City Line . The eastbound direction passes to the south of the train station and north of the city's former main Post Office facility as a four-lane undivided street. The westbound direction bends north around the train station, running along a one-way street with two lanes of traffic that heads north on Schuykill Avenue and crosses under
2146-544: The South Philadelphia Sports Complex and Xfinity Live! , and the Philadelphia Navy Yard . In 1904, a plan for park and parkway improvements in South Philadelphia was designed by Samuel Parsons Jr., but work stopped by 1910. In 1912, the city's director of public works, Morris Cooke, engaged Olmsted Brothers , an architecture firm, to produce designs for League Island Park , Oregon Plaza and
2220-580: The " Chinese Wall ." In 1930, the Pennsylvania Railroad opened Suburban Station, with a new bridge over the Schuylkill River and railroad line parallel to the "Chinese Wall" leading to the new station. With the opening of the Suburban Station, the Pennsylvania Railroad planned to close Broad Street Station and demolish the "Chinese Wall", replacing it with a wide street called Pennsylvania Boulevard that would contain several office buildings. However,
2294-467: The 1890s. The state took over the West Chester Pike in 1918. In 1927, the route was designated as part of PA 5 . PA 3 replaced the PA 5 designation between West Chester and Philadelphia in 1937. Trolley service was replaced by buses in the 1950s to allow for the widening of PA 3 between West Chester and Philadelphia to four lanes. By 1960, PA 3 was shifted to end at US 13 in Southwest Philadelphia . The routing
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2368-478: The 1950s, Broad Street residential areas had been replaced with skyscrapers as well as the newly developed Penn Center . Since the 1970s, the street has undergone various city renovations. Using $ 100 million in public funds, Broad received new lighting and streetscaping, theater restorations and new restaurants and cafes. Lamp post fixtures have been improved as well as sidewalk pavements and subway entrances. In 2015, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter introduced
2442-511: The 50th anniversary of the 1876 Centennial Exposition. Open green areas, parking, and huge exposition buildings flanked the Boulevard lined with linden trees and flowering crab apple trees , individual obelisks as the 13 columns for each of the original Thirteen Colonies known as the "Founders Pylons", various standards, banners , and a huge 80 foot high 27 ton replica of the Liberty Bell at
2516-1177: The Broad Street Run. Public transportation along Broad Street includes SEPTA 's Broad Street Line subway, which served an average of about 137,000 riders per weekday in 2010, running beneath Broad Street for most of its length. The subway starts at the Fern Rock Transportation Center in the Fern Rock neighborhood in North Philadelphia and begins to follow Broad Street at the Olney Transportation Center , extending south through Center City to NRG station at Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia . Several SEPTA City Bus routes run along Broad Street, with Routes 4 and 16 following Broad Street for most of their routes. The Route 4 bus follows Broad Street from Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia north to Rising Sun Avenue in North Philadelphia, where it diverges to
2590-549: The Delaware County Veterans Memorial, running past a mix of fields and development. PA 3 curves east at the Boot Road intersection and passes between a business campus that includes SAP 's North America headquarters to the north and a residential neighborhood to the south. The road heads into business areas and reaches intersections with Bishop Hollow Road and PA 252 in the community of Newtown Square . Following
2664-473: The PA 252 intersection, the route continues east through a mix of suburban residential and commercial areas. At the Media Line Road junction, PA 3 crosses into Marple Township and soon intersects Springfield Road. The road passes more homes and businesses and comes to a junction with PA 320 in the community of Broomall . The route continues near suburban neighborhoods with some businesses before it reaches
2738-473: The Philadelphia Navy Yard. The parkway consists of the central median landscaped area including the bordering east and west tree lined sidewalks and various sized green spaces which separates opposing lanes of traffic, and roadway intersections. Broad Street is a historic city street and this landscaped segment is bordered by an urban residential townhome community and the entrance to the major venues of
2812-618: The SEPTA tracks before turning west on Arch Street. It then passes to the south of the Cira Centre and curves south as 30th Street under the SEPTA tracks again before turning west on John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Immediately east of 30th Street Station, PA 3 has an interchange with I-76 ( Schuylkill Expressway ) before it crosses over the Schuylkill River and then the Schuylkill River Trail and CSX's Philadelphia Subdivision railroad line on
2886-530: The US 202 concurrency in West Chester was removed as that highway was rerouted to bypass the borough to the east along US 322. PA 3 was extended east to PA 291 and PA 611 at Philadelphia City Hall during the 1970s. The route followed Chestnut and Walnut streets to US 13 at 38th Street before running along Chestnut Street eastbound and Market Street westbound to 30th Street Station, where it shifted to Market Street eastbound and John F. Kennedy Boulevard westbound. In 2012,
2960-591: The approach to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River . The John F. Kennedy Boulevard section of PA 3 was originally part of Filbert Street. The stretch of land between Market Street and Filbert Street once contained a viaduct carrying several tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad that led to Broad Street Station . The viaduct provided a physical and social barrier between areas north and south of Market Street that came to be known as
3034-560: The border between the borough of Millbourne to the north and Upper Darby Township to the south. PA 3 heads past some homes before turning into a divided highway at the eastern edge of Millbourne as SEPTA's Market–Frankford Line rises to pass over the road. PA 3 crosses the Cobbs Creek into the city of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County , where it immediately splits from Market Street by turning south onto Cobbs Creek Parkway at
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3108-525: The center of the city. The streets of Penn Square, Juniper Street, John F. Kennedy Boulevard , and 15th Street form a circle around City Hall at this point. It is one of the earliest planned streets in the United States, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a continuous north–south street, planned by surveyor Thomas Holme and developed for Philadelphia in 1681. Broad Street
3182-411: The city and the country had to offer. The intended result was to create a Suburban Village by blending the countryside with the urban environments and developing an organization of open space, views and providing the advantages of increased health benefits of purity of air and facilities for quiet out-of-door recreation. This original concept design facilitated surrounding development in the next century of
3256-426: The city. As the city's population grew, Broad Street was extended both north to Vine and south to Dickinson, eventually reaching the Delaware River waterfront, where today's Philadelphia Naval Shipyard stands. It remains Philadelphia's longest straightaway and one of the longest urban boulevards in the United States. During the early 19th century, Broad Street was home to many wealthy residents, especially around
3330-578: The close of the exposition, but the area continued to draw development in the 1960s with a new stadium, bowling alley, drive in movie theater, movie theater, and the Aquarama Aquarium Theater of the Sea . The development pattern continued with the connstruction of two venues for Philadelphia's four primary professional athletic teams, the 76ers , Eagles , Flyers , Phillies . Veterans Stadium , an outdoor stadium that opened in 1971 and closed in 2003,
3404-562: The construction of 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby in 1907, the route of the West Chester Pike saw increasing suburban development. In 1918, the West Chester Pike was taken over by the state, with the tolls removed. The West Chester Pike was designated as Legislative Route 133 when the Sproul Road Bill was passed in 1911. In 1927, the West Chester Pike and Market Street in Philadelphia were designated as part of PA 5 , which ran along
3478-657: The east to head to the Fern Rock Transportation Center. The Route 16 bus follows Broad Street from Philadelphia City Hall north to its terminus at Cheltenham Avenue , where the bus route continues west along Cheltenham Avenue to the Cheltenham-Ogontz Bus Loop. The entire street is in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County . 39°57′03″N 75°09′50″W / 39.950827°N 75.163968°W / 39.950827; -75.163968 Pennsylvania Route 3 Pennsylvania Route 3 ( PA 3 )
3552-478: The edge of the University of Pennsylvania campus. The streets cross a SEPTA trolley track at 40th Street. Upon reaching US 13 , westbound PA 3 shifts from Walnut Street to Market Street, running concurrent with US 13 southbound on four-lane divided 38th Street between Market and Walnut streets; 38th Street carries a SEPTA trolley track in the northbound direction. East of US 13, westbound PA 3 follows on Market Street,
3626-493: The existing 13th street bridge. The Phase 1 section opened to the public on June 14, 2018. The Philadelphia and Reading Terminal Railroad was incorporated on April 13, 1888, leased by the Philadelphia and Reading Railway on May 1, 1891, and soon began construction. The viaduct and terminal opened on January 29, 1893. In 1984, the Reading Terminal closed, and Philadelphia's Center City Commuter Tunnel opened. The trainshed
3700-478: The first geographical plan of the city to William Penn in 1687. Proposing a center square, Holme designed the street to be roughly 100 feet (30 m) across and 13 miles (21 km) long. Penn intended that the center square would eventually be home to Philadelphia City Hall . During the American Revolutionary War , Broad Street was often settled by Continental Army troops moving in and out of
3774-516: The former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard . Joe Frazier's Gym , the personal training gym and home where former heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier lived and trained in preparation for his fight against Mohammed Ali and George Foreman , is located at the corner of Broad St. and W. Glenwood Ave champion boxer; it has since been turned into a furniture store. The former offices for The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News newspapers are on Broad Street just north of City Hall and
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#17328490103093848-404: The former PA State Building is at the intersection with Spring Garden Street. The Public School District Administration relocated between these two landmarks. Also located on North Broad at its intersection with Fairmount Avenue is the historic Divine Lorraine Hotel . Farther north, Broad passes through the campus of Temple University and its performing arts center, which opened in 1891. Once
3922-517: The gateway of Oregon Plaza. The Boulevard was illuminated at night with spectacular visual displays of the Liberty Bell surrounded with 26,000 light bulbs, the Founder Pylons each with a powerful searchlight projecting skyward, and the shooting projection of lights from the Tower Of Light. This provided a fantastic effect for that time period. The structures were demolished or removed following
3996-664: The intersection with Matlack Street, the westbound direction of PA 3 shifts from East Chestnut Street to East Gay Street. The route continues to follow East Market Street eastbound and East Gay Street westbound through commercial areas, passing north of the terminus of the West Chester Railroad at the West Chester station along East Market Street. PA 3 leaves West Chester for West Goshen Township and intersects Montgomery Avenue (westbound only) and Garfield Avenue/Westtown Road before it comes to an eastbound exit and westbound entrance with Paoli Pike. At this point, both directions of
4070-474: The median before the route comes to Terminal Square, where it crosses SEPTA's Media–Sharon Hill Line at-grade and intersects Victory Avenue/Garrett Road. Past this, PA 3 heads east on four-lane undivided Market Street as it passes between SEPTA's 69th Street Transportation Center to the north and urban businesses to the south, gaining a median before the 69th Street intersection. The route becomes undivided again and runs past more commercial development, forming
4144-490: The new viaduct merged with the old alignment. Broad Street (Philadelphia) Broad Street is a major arterial street in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . The street runs for approximately 13 miles (21 km), beginning at the intersection of Cheltenham Avenue on the border of Cheltenham Township and the West / East Oak Lane neighborhoods of North Philadelphia to the Philadelphia Navy Yard in South Philadelphia . It
4218-577: The north of William L. Sayre High School between 59th and 58th streets while Chestnut Street passes south of West Philadelphia High School before crossing 49th Street, south of the Community College of Philadelphia 's West Regional Center past 48th Street, and south of West Catholic Preparatory High School prior to crossing 45th Street. Farther east, the route reaches the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia, where Walnut Street runs along
4292-585: The north of the Llanerch Country Club , continuing through suburban development. Farther east, the route crosses Naylors Run and heads into the community of Llanerch , where it intersects Darby Road a short distance before coming to a junction with US 1 . After crossing US 1, PA 3 enters Upper Darby Township and continues past suburban businesses and homes. The road crosses State Road and heads into more urban areas of residential and commercial development. A set of SEPTA trolley tracks begins running in
4366-566: The right-most lane on John F. Kennedy Boulevard becomes a bus lane. Eastbound PA 3 passes to the north of Liberty Place between 17th and 16th streets while westbound PA 3 passes to the south of the Comcast Center between 18th and 17th streets, Suburban Station of SEPTA Regional Rail between 17th and 16th streets, and LOVE Park between 16th and 15th streets. PA 3 reaches its eastern terminus at PA 611 (which runs north-south along Broad Street through Philadelphia) at 15th Street, which forms
4440-575: The river's east bank on the Market Street Bridge eastbound and the John F. Kennedy Boulevard Bridge westbound. At this point, PA 3 heads into Center City Philadelphia on four-lane undivided Market Street eastbound and four-lane divided John F. Kennedy Boulevard westbound. The streets pass several downtown skyscrapers, with the westbound direction running south of SEPTA's Main Line tracks, which head into
4514-560: The route join and head east along four-lane divided West Chester Pike, passing through residential areas in the community of Chatwood . PA 3 comes to a partial cloverleaf interchange with the US 202 / US 322 freeway and runs past businesses and some homes. The road curves east-southeast at the Strasburg Road intersection and crosses into East Goshen Township , where it continues past suburban neighborhoods and commercial establishments, crossing
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#17328490103094588-671: The route passes through Edgmont , Newtown Square , Broomall , and Havertown . The route has an interchange with Interstate 476 (I-476) between Broomall and Havertown. Upon reaching Upper Darby, PA 3 heads into Philadelphia along Market Street . In Philadelphia, the route follows multiple one-way pairs, running along Chestnut Street eastbound and Walnut Street westbound in West Philadelphia before heading into Center City Philadelphia along Market Street eastbound and John F. Kennedy Boulevard westbound and ending at Philadelphia City Hall . Philadelphia and West Chester were linked by
4662-526: The section of PA 3 between Adams Street in West Chester and US 202/US 322 in West Goshen Township was named the Robert J. Thompson Highway in honor of former State Senator Robert J. Thompson . A ceremony was held on October 9, 2012, with State Senator Andy Dinniman and state and local officials in attendance. On August 16, 2021, the right lane on eastbound PA 3 (Market Street) between 20th Street and PA 611 (15th Street) and on westbound PA 3 (John F. Kennedy Boulevard) between PA 611 (15th Street) and 19th Street
4736-409: The street during the second half of the 19th century. Elaborate hotels such as the Divine Lorraine and the Majestic were centers for nightlife . Standing over 10 stories tall the Lorraine was one of the tallest residential structures in Philadelphia. Private clubs such as the Columbia and Mercantile were popular during the Gilded Age . At the turn of the 20th century, Broad Street transformed from
4810-428: The stretch of south Broad Street from Oregon Avenue south to Pattison Avenue and southward to League Island . The unifying medial green space including the tree lined sidewalks on the east and west connected the two parks developed from river swamp lands that were filled and regraded. In 1926, a second Parkway was constructed on Moyamensing Avenue from Oregon Avenue to the intersection of Packer Avenue, and Packer Avenue
4884-480: The westbound direction on Market Street, continuing east. Upon reaching 32nd Street, PA 3 splits into another one-way pair, with eastbound PA 3 continuing east along Market Street and westbound PA 3 following four-lane John F. Kennedy Boulevard, both being two-way streets. The route passes under CSX 's Harrisburg Subdivision railroad line before coming to the 30th Street intersection at 30th Street Station , which serves Amtrak 's Northeast Corridor railroad line,
4958-439: The western part of Penn Square around Philadelphia City Hall . From 1793 to 1850, Philadelphia and West Chester were linked by a dirt road used by horse-drawn carriages and wagons. The Philadelphia and West Chester Turnpike Road Company was formed in March 1848 to build a turnpike between 38th and Market streets in Philadelphia and Newtown Square. The turnpike was to have five toll houses along its length. The West Chester Pike
5032-431: Was constructed to improve farming and manufacturing in Delaware County. The turnpike became a plank road between 1850 and 1868. Rail service was first used on the turnpike in 1859, when the Delaware County Passenger Rail Road Company built a 4-mile (6.4 km) horse-drawn rail line from 38th and Market streets in Philadelphia to Howard House in Upper Darby. The entire turnpike between Philadelphia and Newtown Square became
5106-407: Was extended from 20th Street to Broad Street (Southern Boulevard) for access to the Sesquicentennial Exposition . The two parks were later renamed Marconi Plaza and FDR Park , and the median landscaping was named Southern Boulevard. Olmsted's design was centered on the availability of open space to all residents. Olmsted wanted to create a place that took advantage of the best characteristics that
5180-414: Was incorporated into the Pennsylvania Convention Center . The viaduct was built by the Reading Company as an approach to the new Reading Terminal . The viaduct heads north from Reading Terminal and at Callowhill Junction, forks, with Ninth Street Branch formally merging with the current SEPTA main line . Except for a gap caused by the construction of the Vine Street Expressway ( I-676 / US 30 ), and
5254-410: Was later renamed to John F. Kennedy Boulevard. In 1954, regular trolley service between Philadelphia and West Chester ended as plans were made to widen PA 3. Trolley service during peak periods continued until 1958. The trolley service was replaced by buses, which is today part of SEPTA's Route 104 service. During the mid 1950s and early 1960s, the West Chester Pike portion of PA 3 was widened into
5328-562: Was one of the biggest steam locomotive producers before the transition to diesel powered trains. Broad Street's biggest addition came with the construction of City Hall intersecting Broad and Market. With the progression of the Industrial Revolution , Philadelphia became a center for trade and commerce. Transportation growth gained prominence with the construction of the Broad Street Station in 1881. Social life dominated
5402-594: Was shifted to US 13 west of University City by 1970 before the route was extended east to Philadelphia City Hall during the 1970s. PA 3 begins at an intersection with US 322 Bus. (High Street) in the downtown area of the borough of West Chester in Chester County near the historic Chester County Courthouse . From here, the route heads northeast on the one-way pair of East Market Street eastbound and East Chestnut Street westbound. The one-way streets carry two lanes in each direction as they pass downtown businesses. At
5476-577: Was the home field of the Eagles and Phillies. The Spectrum , an indoor arena that opened in 1967 and closed in 2009, was the home stadium of the 76ers and Flyers. Although the thoroughfare carried the name of Broad Street the green space was officially designated in the 1950s Philadelphia Home Rule City Charter as part of the Fairmount Park urban park system as parkland, to be known as Southern Parkway . No traces of this name exist in this area today and it
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