Roosevelt Boulevard (Philadelphia)

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This article is about the section of U.S. Route 1 in the city of Philadelphia. For an overview of the highway within the state of Pennsylvania, see U.S. Route 1 in Pennsylvania. For the entire length of the highway, see U.S. Route 1.

Roosevelt Boulevard

Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Boulevard
Roosevelt Boulevard highlighted in red
Roosevelt Expressway highlighted in blue
Route information
Maintained by PennDOT and City of Philadelphia
Length14.9 mi[1] (24.0 km)
Component
highways		 US 1 for its entire length
US 13 from Hunting Park to Mayfair
PA 63 in Somerton
Major junctions
South end I-76 / US 1 in West Fairmount Park
Major intersections
North end US 1 in Trevose
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountiesPhiladelphia
Highway system

Roosevelt Boulevard, officially named the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Boulevard and locally known as "the Boulevard", is a major traffic artery through North and Northeast Philadelphia. The road begins at Interstate 76 (Schuylkill Expressway) in Fairmount Park, running as a freeway also known as the Roosevelt Boulevard Extension or the Roosevelt Expressway through North Philadelphia, then transitioning into a twelve-lane boulevard that forms the spine of Northeast Philadelphia to its end at the city line.

Roosevelt Boulevard is part of the Lincoln Highway, the first road across the United States, which ran for 3,389 miles (5,454 km) from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park on the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco.

Roosevelt Boulevard is designated as US 1. Portions are concurrent with US 13 (between Hunting Park Avenue and Robbins Street/Levick Street) and Pennsylvania Route 63 (between Red Lion and Woodhaven roads).

The road is notorious for two intersections, which have been designated the second and third-most dangerous intersections in the nation by State Farm, at Red Lion Road and Grant Avenue, respectively.[2] The dangerous reputation of the road led to installation of the first red light cameras in Philadelphia in 2004. The road has been the scene of numerous pedestrian casualties and studies are underway to allow pedestrian traffic to be separated from vehicular traffic.[3]

Route description

Roosevelt Expressway

Overpass carrying PA 611 (North Broad Street) and SEPTA's B subway line over US 1 (Roosevelt Expressway) in North Philadelphia

The Roosevelt Expressway (also called Roosevelt Boulevard Extension) begins at an interchange with the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) in the city of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County. US 1 splits from I-76 by heading northeast on the Roosevelt Expressway, a six-lane freeway. Immediately after the split, the route heads onto the Twin Bridges, which carry the route over Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line, a wye connection between the Harrisburg Line and CSX's Trenton Subdivision railroad line that uses the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, Schuylkill River Viaduct; Martin Luther King Jr. Drive; the Schuylkill River Trail; the Schuylkill River; Kelly Drive; and Ridge Avenue. From here, the freeway heads into the East Falls neighborhood and passes near urban residential and commercial development, coming to a southbound exit and northbound entrance serving Ridge Avenue and Kelly Drive. US 1 crosses under SEPTA's Manayunk/Norristown Line and continues through developed areas, heading to the southeast of Queen Lane Reservoir. The route comes to a southbound exit and entrance that serves Fox and Henry avenues. The freeway passes over SEPTA's Chestnut Hill West Line as it comes to an interchange with Wissahickon Avenue, which also provides access to Germantown Avenue and Hunting Park Avenue, in the Nicetown–Tioga neighborhood. Here, the freeway narrows to two northbound lanes while retaining three southbound lanes. US 1 heads into North Philadelphia and crosses through Fernhill Park before it curves east and comes to a bridge over SEPTA's Main Line and CSX's Trenton Subdivision north of SEPTA's Roberts Yard and south of Wayne Junction station serving the SEPTA line. The route continues along the bridge over urban neighborhoods before it descends into a cut as a four-lane freeway, with a northbound exit and southbound entrance serving PA 611 (Broad Street), provided via frontage roads (St. Lukes Street northbound and Cayuga Street southbound). The freeway passes under PA 611 (Broad Street), which also carries SEPTA's B subway line. Past this interchange, US 1 comes to a southbound exit and northbound entrance with US 13 (which is called Roosevelt Boulevard and leads to Hunting Park Avenue) north of the Hunting Park neighborhood, where the Roosevelt Expressway ends.[1][4]

Roosevelt Boulevard

Roosevelt Boulevard (US 1) northbound past Solly Avenue/Holme Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia

At this point, US 1 becomes concurrent with US 13 on Roosevelt Boulevard, a wide boulevard with local–express lanes that has 12 lanes total in a 3–3–3–3 configuration. Along the Roosevelt Boulevard, access between the inner and outer carriageways is provided with narrow crossover ramps immediately between them; for most intersections, left turns are only permitted from the inner pair (or from separate left turn roadways) and right turns only from the outer, and crossing between them is not permitted at the intersections. There are speed cameras along the boulevard and many intersections also have red light cameras. The boulevard continues past urban residential neighborhoods, coming to the 5th Street junction, where the local lanes intersect the street at-grade and the express lanes pass over the street on a bridge. US 1/US 13 continues east and passes through the Feltonville neighborhood, where it intersects Rising Sun Avenue, before it crosses Tacony Creek. At this point, Roosevelt Boulevard continues into Northeast Philadelphia and curves to the southeast at an intersection with Adams and Whitaker avenues, passing between a shopping center to the northeast and Friends Hospital to the southwest. The boulevard curves to the northeast again at a junction with Adams and Summerdale avenues, passing near rowhouses before reaching Oxford Circle. At this point, the local lanes pass through Oxford Circle, a traffic circle at Cheltenham Avenue, Castor Avenue, and the southern terminus of PA 232, which runs along Oxford Avenue. The express lanes pass under Oxford Circle. Past the circle, Roosevelt Boulevard continues east-northeast through residential areas.[1][4]

The road crosses Bustleton Avenue and US 13 splits from US 1 by heading southeast on the one-way pair of Robbins Street northbound and Levick Street southbound, while US 1 continues northeast along Roosevelt Boulevard past urban homes and businesses. The boulevard bends to the northeast after crossing Harbison Avenue and continues through developed areas in the Mayfair neighborhood. The route comes to an interchange with PA 73 (Cottman Avenue), where the local lanes intersect PA 73 while the express lanes pass under it. Ramps provide access from the express lanes to the local lanes prior to the PA 73 junction in each direction. Past here, US 1 passes to the southeast of Roosevelt Mall before it curves north and runs near more residential and commercial development. The boulevard turns to the northeast and heads east of the Rhawnhurst neighborhood, crossing Rhawn Street before reaching an interchange with Solly Avenue/Holme Avenue at the former Pennypack Circle, where the local lanes intersect Solly Avenue/Holme Avenue while the express lanes head under the street. Following the interchange, the route runs to the west of Nazareth Hospital before it heads into wooded areas of Pennypack Park, where it passes over Pennypack Creek and the parallel Pennypack Trail.[1][4]

Roosevelt Boulevard (US 1) northbound past Welsh Road (PA 532) in Northeast Philadelphia

After passing through the park, US 1 heads through residential areas before running past businesses and coming to an intersection with the southern terminus of PA 532 at Welsh Road. The boulevard becomes lined with more commercial development and crosses Grant Avenue, which provides access to Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The route runs between a residential neighborhood to the northwest and a shopping center to the southeast before it passes northwest of Northeast Philadelphia Airport and heads past more commercial establishments, running parallel to an East Penn Railroad line to the east of the road. After this, the road comes to an intersection with PA 63 at Red Lion Road. At this point, PA 63 becomes concurrent with US 1 on Roosevelt Boulevard, and the boulevard heads northeast through areas of businesses and industrial parks. After intersecting Byberry Road, the concurrency with PA 63 ends at an unfinished cloverleaf interchange with Woodhaven Road, where PA 63 heads southeast onto the Woodhaven Road freeway. US 1 continues northeast past industrial parks, intersecting Southampton Road, before it passes to the west of Benjamin Rush State Park. At this point, the local and express lanes merge, and the route becomes a divided highway with three northbound lanes and four southbound lanes that crosses Poquessing Creek. Roosevelt Boulevard ends here and US 1 continues northeast into Bensalem Township in Bucks County as Lincoln Highway.[1][4]

The entire length of Roosevelt Expressway and Roosevelt Boulevard is part of the National Highway System.[5]

History

Roosevelt Boulevard (US 1/US 13) northbound at Robbins Street in Northeast Philadelphia

Proposed in 1903 by Mayor Samuel H. Ashbridge as part of the City Beautiful movement, the 300-foot-wide thoroughfare originally extended from Broad Street to the Torresdale neighborhood, and was first named Torresdale Boulevard. Plans for this boulevard were approved on March 2, 1903.[6] The road became Northeast Boulevard in 1914 when the road was completed. On August 9, 1914, the first section of Northeast Boulevard was opened, running from Broad and Cayuga streets northeast to Rhawn Street. The boulevard connected to Bensalem Pike and provided an improved connection from Philadelphia to Trenton and New York City. Construction of the first section of Northeast Boulevard cost $3 million.[7] The road was extended from Rhawn Street to the Pennypack Circle near the Pennypack Creek on November 5, 1918, opening to traffic later in the month.[8] The boulevard was extended north to Welsh Road in 1920.[9] On October 27, 1920, Northeast Boulevard was renamed Roosevelt Boulevard in honor of former President Theodore Roosevelt on his birthday. A dedication ceremony was held, with Roosevelt's widow Edith Roosevelt, his son Kermit Roosevelt, and his wife in attendance, in which the Roosevelt family traveled down the boulevard to Broad Street.[10]

North of the Pennypack Creek, the road continued north as Bensalem Avenue. On August 14, 1923, Bensalem Avenue was completed between Grant Avenue and the Poquessing Creek at the Bucks County line. An opening ceremony was held, with Philadelphia Mayor J. Hampton Moore in attendance.[11] The section of Bensalem Avenue between Welsh Road and Grant Avenue formally opened on January 4, 1924, with a ceremony held. The Roosevelt Boulevard and its continuation along Bensalem Avenue were designated as part of the Lincoln Highway, an auto trail that ran from San Francisco to New York City.[12] The road was designated US 1 when the United States Numbered Highway System was established in 1926.[13] The Roosevelt Boulevard was extended through Philadelphia along Bensalem Avenue to neighboring Bucks County in the post-World War II years.

Roosevelt Expressway (US 1) southbound at Wissahickon Avenue in North Philadelphia

In 1950, plans were made for a freeway extension of the proposed Schuylkill Expressway that would begin at the Schuylkill Expressway just southeast of the Falls Bridge over the Schuylkill River and head northeast to connect to Roosevelt Boulevard at 9th and Wingohocking streets.[14] Construction on the first section of the Roosevelt Boulevard Extension between the Schuylkill Expressway and Scotts Lane in the East Falls neighborhood began on May 20, 1957. This section included the construction of twin bridges over the Schuylkill River. Construction began on the remaining sections of the road in the later part of 1957 and the early part of 1958. The construction of the Roosevelt Boulevard Extension resulted in the demolition of 240 homes along Ridge Avenue and Cayuga Street. Property owners and civic groups protested the condemnation of residential and industrial properties to build the road before construction was approved on May 11, 1955.[15] On May 19, 1961, the Roosevelt Expressway (also called Roosevelt Boulevard Extension) opened to traffic, providing a freeway connection between the Schuylkill Expressway and Roosevelt Boulevard. The freeway was six lanes wide between the Schuylkill Expressway and Roberts Avenue and four lanes wide between Roberts Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard. The Roosevelt Expressway was built to reduce traffic congestion along Hunting Park Avenue. A dedication ceremony for the freeway was held at 9th Street, consisting of a ribbon-cutting and motorcade. Lieutenant Governor John Morgan Davis and state and local officials attended the ceremony. Construction of the freeway cost $25 million and it received federal, state, and city funding.[16][17]

In 1998 a series of gang-related criminal rock throwing attacks on cars driving near Ridge Avenue, Henry Avenue and Fox Street "terrorized" Philadelphia drivers.[18][19]

In 2000, by act of the state legislature, the Roosevelt Boulevard was designated the "Police Officer Daniel Faulkner Memorial Highway" in memory of Daniel Faulkner, a Philadelphia police officer whom Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of having slain in the line of duty in 1981. The designation is alongside the roadway's official name of Roosevelt Boulevard.[20][21]

There have been several plans to change the boulevard into an expressway-like artery, like the Roosevelt Expressway itself, and construct a subway called the Roosevelt Boulevard Subway underneath the boulevard, but no such plans have been acted upon.

Roosevelt Boulevard (US 1) northbound past Grant Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia

Today, Roosevelt Boulevard is among the most congested arteries in the country. According to a 2001 report by State Farm Insurance, the second- and third-worst intersections in the country are both found on the Boulevard, at Red Lion Road (PA 63) and Grant Avenue, respectively, only a mile apart from each other.[22] Red light cameras were activated at the intersection with Grant Avenue on February 23, 2005, and at the intersection with Red Lion Road (PA 63) on May 21, 2005.[23][24] On August 24, 2005, red light cameras were activated at the intersection with Cottman Avenue (PA 73).[25] New cameras installed at the intersections with Mascher Street, Levick Street (US 13), Rhawn Street, Welsh Road (PA 532), and Southampton Road became operational on June 6, 2007.[26] In 2008, red light cameras were activated at the 9th Street intersection.[27][28]

In 2016, the junction of the boulevard's outer lanes with Holme Avenue and Solly Avenue was rebuilt, converting the roundabout (known locally as the Pennypack Circle) into an at-grade intersection. Construction began in 2014 with an estimated cost of $15.5 million (equivalent to $19.7 million in 2023[29]).[30]

On June 1, 2020, the Philadelphia Parking Authority activated speed cameras along Roosevelt Boulevard, with a 60-day warning period before fines are issued.[31] On December 14, 2023, Governor Josh Shapiro signed a bill that made the pilot program for speed cameras along Roosevelt Boulevard permanent.[32] There are plans to turn the right-most lanes along the Roosevelt Boulevard between Bustleton Avenue and Southampton Road into bus lanes in order to improve on-time performance for SEPTA bus service along this section of the boulevard.[33]

Major intersections

The entire road is in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County.

Locationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
West Fairmount Park0.00.0
 I-76 / US 1 south (Schuylkill Expressway) – Central Philadelphia, Valley Forge		Exit 340B on I-76
Schuylkill RiverTwin Bridges
East Falls–Allegheny West0.40.64Ridge Avenue/Kelly DriveSouthbound exit and northbound entrance; site of proposed interchange with Manayunk Expressway
1.01.6Fox Street/Henry AvenueSouthbound exit and entrance
Wissahickon Avenue south/Hunting Park AvenueNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
Germantown–Nicetown1.52.4Wissahickon Avenue north/Germantown AvenueNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
Hunting Park–Fern Rock2.33.7 PA 611 (Broad Street)Southbound exit is via US 13
2.84.5
 US 13 south (Hunting Park Avenue) / Broad Street		Southern terminus of concurrency with US 13; southbound exit and northbound entrance
3.15.0Wingohocking Street/9th StreetAt-grade intersection except northbound exit; southern terminus of frontage roads
Oxford Circle6.410.3 PA 232 (Oxford Avenue) / Cheltenham Avenue/Castor AvenueInterchange (Oxford Circle)
Oxford Circle–Mayfair7.111.4
 US 13 north (Robbins Street) – Tacony–Palmyra Bridge		One-way northbound; northern terminus of northbound concurrency with US 13
7.211.6 US 13 (Levick Street)One-way southbound; northern terminus of southbound concurrency with US 13
8.313.4
 PA 73 (Cottman Avenue) to I-95		Interchange
Rhawnhurst9.415.1Holme Avenue/Solly AvenueInterchange (former Pennypack Circle)
Bustleton10.617.1
 PA 532 north (Welsh Road)		Right turns via frontage roads; southern terminus of PA 532
Somerton12.420.0
 PA 63 west (Red Lion Road)		Right turns via frontage roads; southern terminus of concurrency with PA 63
13.722.0

 PA 63 east (Woodhaven Road) to I-95		Interchange with frontage roads; northern terminus of concurrency with PA 63
14.924.0
 US 1 north (Lincoln Highway)		Continuation into Bucks County
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Google (July 13, 2018). "Roosevelt Boulevard and Expressway" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  2. ^ "List of 'most dangerous' intersections released". CNN. June 27, 2001. Archived from the original on April 5, 2007.
  3. ^ "Study Evaluates the Effectiveness of Red Light Camera Enforcement in Philadelphia". Government Technology. January 31, 2007.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b c d Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Highway Map (PDF) (Map). PennDOT. 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  5. ^ National Highway System: Pennsylvania (PDF) (Map). Federal Highway Administration. 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  6. ^ "Approving Plans For Boulevard". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 3, 1903. p. 5.
  7. ^ "Boulevard Will Be Opened Today". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 9, 1914. p. 3.
  8. ^ "New Boulevard Section". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 6, 1918. p. 16.
  9. ^ Brian Butko, The Lincoln Highway: Pennsylvania Traveler's Guide, ISBN 978-0-8117-2497-5
  10. ^ "Roosevelt's Kin Cheered As Phila. Dedicates Highway". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 28, 1920. p. 1, 9.
  11. ^ "New 3-Mile Arm Of Boulevard Ready". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 12, 1923. p. 7.
  12. ^ "Boulevard Outlet Awaits Dedication". The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 30, 1923. p. 3.
  13. ^ Pennsylvania Highway Map (eastern side) (Map). Gulf Oil. 1926. Retrieved December 26, 2007.
  14. ^ Williams, Edgar (February 19, 1950). "$260,000,000 Traffic Solution". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 145.
  15. ^ Rosen, Frank (June 9, 1957). "East Falls Expressway Link Year Ahead Of Schedule". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 23.
  16. ^ "Dateline… Delaware Valley U.S.A.". The Philadelphia Inquirer. May 18, 1961. p. 39.
  17. ^ "Roosevelt Boulevard Extension". The Philadelphia Inquirer. May 20, 1961. p. 15.
  18. ^ Goldblatt, Michael (November 19, 1998). "A Deadly Game". The Jewish Exponent. ProQuest 227261294.
  19. ^ Frisby, Mann (October 23, 1998). "Cops Hold 3 for Throwing Rocks at Cars". Philadelphia Daily News. ProQuest 429655707.
  20. ^ "HB 2503. PN 3498" (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Legislative Journal. No. 40. p. 1431. June 14, 2000.
  21. ^ Walker, Julian. "It's Danny's way". The Northeast Times. Archived from the original on March 25, 2009.
  22. ^ Muse, Queen (July 17, 2013). "Roosevelt Boulevard Still Deadly for Pedestrians". Philadelphia, PA: WCAU-TV. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  23. ^ Twyman, Anthony S. (February 23, 2005). "Smile! You got a ticket for running that light". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. B01.
  24. ^ "PennDOT activates more - cameras on Boulevard". Northeast Times. Philadelphia, PA. May 26, 2005.
  25. ^ "Red-light runners: - Smile & say "uh-oh'". Northeast Times. Philadelphia, PA. September 1, 2005.
  26. ^ Fritsky, Lauren (June 6, 2007). "Smile for the - red light cameras . . ". Northeast Times. Philadelphia, PA.
  27. ^ "More red-light cameras". Philadelphia Daily News. June 13, 2008. p. 9.
  28. ^ "No more Mr. Nice-City". Philadelphia Daily News. January 6, 2009. p. 5.
  29. ^ Johnston, Louis & Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  30. ^ "PennDOT supervisor gives update on Pennypack Circle project". Northeast Times. June 4, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  31. ^ Madej, Patricia (May 21, 2020). "Speed cameras will go active June 1 on Roosevelt Blvd., with warnings before tickets". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  32. ^ "Gov. Shapiro signs bill making speed cameras along the Roosevelt Boulevard permanent". Philadelphia, PA: WPVI-TV. December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  33. ^ "PennDOT, City of Philadelphia, SEPTA to Host Virtual Public Meeting for Roosevelt Boulevard Route for Change Bus Lanes" (Press release). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2025.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Roosevelt Boulevard (Philadelphia).

40°01′59″N 75°04′48″W / 40.032937°N 75.079879°W / 40.032937; -75.079879

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