Whether by car, rail or human power, Philadelphia is inarguably one of the best cities in America for commuters. Getting to and from work can be easy, convenient and full of options from nearly any neighborhood.
1. Regional rail
Running approximately every hour or half-hour, depending on rail line and stop, SEPTA Regional Rail – Philadelphia’s commuter rail service – runs 13 convenient lines to and from every corner of the city.
Every Regional Rail line funnels through three main bustling downtown hubs: Jefferson Station in Market East, Suburban Station in Logan Square and 30th Street Station in University City.
Heading out of town? The same trains will transport you to Philadelphia International Airport, Amtrak Acela and Northeast Regional trains, as well as New Jersey Transit stations which can take you to New York City or Atlantic City.
2. Rapid transit lines
Philadelphia also has several convenient Rapid Transit Lines for easy crosstown commutes departing every ten minutes or so.
The Broad Street Line subway is the main north-south spur in the city, extending from the Fern Rock neighborhood in North Philly to the South Philadelphia Stadium Complex – perfect for a game at any of the city’s three major league arenas.
Stretching east to west from the Frankford neighborhood Northeast Philly to 69th Street Station just across the street from the West Philly’s Overbrook neighborhood is the Market-Frankford subway and elevated line (or “El”).
And if you’re commuting across the river, PATCO offers rapid transit extending into the New Jersey suburbs. Trains run 24-hours a day from Lindenwold, NJ to Locust Street – just south of Center City.
3. Trolleys and buses
For a more localized commute, SEPTA offers multiple above-ground trolley lines as well.
The Girard Avenue Line of traditional streetcars runs from the River Ward neighborhood of Port Richmond to Haddington in West Philadelphia. The Green Line, a chain of light-rail trolley routes, connects Market Street in Center City with Southwest Philadelphia. And a series of three electric trolleybus lines crisscross Northeast and North Philadelphia from Torresdale to Rhawnhurst to Nicetown-Tioga.
Add 120 different bus routes to the equation and there’s nowhere in Philadelphia that mass transit can’t take you.
4. Bicycling
Philadelphia has 75 miles of paved bike paths, and Center City alone has nearly 40 covered bike racks. If you wish to combine biking and transit, every single SEPTA bus is equipped with a front bike rack (but be aware that trains have bike restrictions during rush hours).
Don’t have your own ride? Philly’s Indego bike share program offers 600 bikes at 60 stations for an assortment of small fees and a helpful payment app.
5. Walking
As for walkers, a University of Minnesota study recently ranked Philly the eighth most accessible city for pedestrian commuters, with an exceptionally large number of jobs within a 10-minute walk from home.
Top downtown neighborhoods for walking to work include Avenue of the Arts, Rittenhouse Square and Bella Vista, with outer neighborhoods such as University City, Graduate Hospital and Fishtown assessed highly as well.
With walkability, bike friendliness and easy-to-use public transportation – not to mention dozens of garages and thousands of metered parking spaces – it’s easy to get around and get to work in Philadelphia.
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