SEPTA Route 15 - 2005 Return of Trolley

2005 Return of Trolley

The 15 line returned to trolley service in September 2005 after having been served by buses for thirteen years. To prepare for the resumption of trolley service, SEPTA spent a total of $100 million, including rehabilitating the tracks and repairs to the overhead wires. The rolling stock for Route 15 consists of PCC II cars, which are 1947 PCC streetcars that had been completely rebuilt by the Brookville Equipment Company as a cost of $1.3 million per trolley. The rebuilt trolley includes the addition of air conditioning and regenerative braking, as well as a widened center door with a wheelchair lift for ADA compliance.

The restoration of trolley service was delayed because of a long fight with local residents on 59th Street, which the trolleys needed to travel down in order to access the Callowhill Depot, over parking on the street. During the reconstruction of the line the surrounding neighborhoods, through grassroots coalitions, worked to improve the Girard Avenue streetscape through beautification and marketing projects. Since service returned in 2005, the 15 line has spurred various development projects as well as renewed investment along the corridor.

Although SEPTA has committed itself to restoring its suspended trolley lines, suburban communities argue that available funds be used instead for the expansion of interurban rail lines over urban trolley lines, citing imperfect implementation of the 15 line and the cost of maintaining the trolley infrastructure. Shuttle buses have at times replaced trolley service on sections of the line due to track, roadwork, and other maintenance work.