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PATCO Receives Ceremonial Liberty Bell in Recognition of 50 Years of Public Transit Service

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney commemorated PATCO’s Golden Anniversary during Customer Appreciation Event at 15/16th & Locust Street Station

To commemorate PATCO’s 50 years of connecting people through public transit, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney presented PATCO with a Ceremonial Liberty Bell on behalf of the City of Philadelphia on Tuesday, October 15, 2019.

On February 15, 1969, PATCO made its first trip from Lindenwold, New Jersey, to Center City Philadelphia.

“Congratulations to PATCO on its 50th Anniversary. It’s a real connection between Philadelphia and New Jersey,” said Kenney. “PATCO is really important. It brings thousands of passengers across the bridge into Philadelphia. It keeps cars off the highways, keeps emissions down and really does a good job for our environment.”

PATCO General Manager John D. Rink and DRPA Deputy CEO Maria J. Wing accepted the Ceremonial Liberty Bell on behalf of PATCO at its 15/16th & Locust Street Station.

“We have a saying at the DRPA and PATCO that we connect people. We connect people to their jobs. We connect people to their homes. We connect people to cross river events,” said Wing. “Currently more than 10.8 million people every year ride PATCO. We look forward to another 50 years of serving the region with the reopening of the Franklin Square Station in 2023.”

Kenney echoed the shared excitement for the reopening of Franklin Square.

“The opening of the PATCO Station at Franklin Square will be wonderful because people from New Jersey will be able to bring their kids over to Franklin Square and not have to bring their car and have a good time with their kids and enjoy Philadelphia,” added Kenney. “It makes us even closer states than we already are.”

After the Liberty Bell presentation, PATCO held a 50th Anniversary Customer Appreciation Event at the station. The event featured food, music, giveaways and a prize wheel where customers could win items such as a $50 FREEDOM Card and round-trip tickets.

“We are very proud to be part of the Philadelphia community,” said Rink. “Without our customers each and every day, we would not be here, so thank you.”

 (L to R) Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, DRPA Deputy CEO Maria J. Wing
and PATCO General Manager John D. Rink.

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