Getting to Green: Route 9
June 18, 2024
SEPTA partnered with Mural Arts and Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) on Getting to Green: Routes to Roots - a multidisciplinary public art project aimed at inspiring Philadelphia residents to use public transportation [aka SEPTA] to explore the city’s green spaces. Through unique artwork including hand-drawn maps - riders are encouraged to discover new pathways and routes.
You might be surprised by how quickly you can travel from urban areas to green spaces on SEPTA.
Approximately 12 miles long - Route 9 has been around since February 5, 1984 when it replaced Route A express. Serving Center City and Roxborough - Route 9 carries 2,016 passengers on weekdays and makes an average of 125 trips. On the weekends it makes an average of 57 trips per day.
Route 9 travels from 4th and Walnut in Center City to Andorra Shopping Center via Chestnut and Walnut Streets, the Schuylkill Expressway, and Ridge Avenue. At Grey 30th Street Station it connects with Amtrak, NJ Transit, SEPTA Regional Rail, and 14 SEPTA Bus Routes. Additionally - it connects with 11 bus routes at Wissahickon Transportation Center.
Route 9 is the gateway and WAY TO GO to Wissahickon Valley Park. The Wissahickon Transportation Center (4900 Ridge Avenue) offers access to the park at the Ridge Avenue entrance.
Spanning 1,800 acres - this natural wonder features extensive trails that wind through lush forests and meadows offering breathtaking views of the sun-dappled waters of the Wissahickon Creek. Whether you enjoy walking, biking, or horseback riding - Wissahickon Valley Park provides an unparalleled wilderness experience that should not be missed in Philadelphia's park system.
Over 2 million annual visitors take advantage of the park’s abundant recreational opportunities. More than 50 miles of rugged trails offer hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians the opportunity to explore the park’s dense forests, open meadows, and shaded creeks. Wissahickon Creek is stocked with trout every spring, luring fishermen to its banks, while birdwatchers migrate to the restored Andorra and Houston meadows to witness the arrival of dozens of bird species.
The Wissahickon feels very wild but with more than a million annual visitors it’s a constant challenge to keep it that way. They depend on your help to make sure that the park continues to be a pleasant place for recreation and a sustainable habitat for migratory birds and local wildlife. If you brought it in, bring it out. Avoid littering or dumping in the park. You can even pay it forward by picking up trash on your visit! Minimize your impact on the park by staying on established trails and only building fires in designated barbecues or fire pits. Protect wildlife by leashing any pets and giving habitat boxes space.
And don't forget - you can bring your bike on the bus to explore and enjoy even more!
Now that you know the WAY TO GO - here are the WAYS TO PAY:
Bus fare is $2.50 cash [exact change required] or $2 if you have a SEPTA Key card with Travel Wallet or have one of these passes loaded to your SEPTA Key card: Monthly or Weekly TransPass or TrailPass, Convenience Pass, Neighborhood Flex Pass, or Anywhere FleX Pass.
No SEPTA Key card? No problem! Tap your contactless credit card, debit card, smart phone or watch to ride SEPTA buses, subways, and trolleys. Or check out SEPTA Key Tix - the new and convenient way to pay for transit using your smartphone!
And don't forget - Kids under 12 ride free when accompanied by an adult and Seniors 65+ ride free with a SEPTA Key Senior Fare Card!
Getting to Green: Routes to Roots is a collaboration between two local Philadelphia artists. Shira Walinsky has created over 40 murals in Philadelphia focusing on people and maps. Laura Deutch uses media and participatory art to explore connections between people, places, and their stories.
