6 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

ProgressiveRailroading.com, 6/16/14:

Legislation proposes to name Philadelphia rail station after late congressman Gray

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.) last week introduced a bill that would rename Philadelphia's 30th Street rail station in honor of the late William Gray III, Fattah's predecessor in Pennsylvania's second congressional district.

Gray, who died in July 2013 at the age of 71, is credited with securing a significant portion of the funds for the $78 million overhaul of the station that was completed as he was leaving office in 1991. While in Congress, Gray was a key sponsor of a $13 million Urban Development Action Grant that helped pay for the renovation project. He also helped secure $30 million in bond funding.

More.

[KevinKorell]

Leave it alone. Philadelphians aren't going to embrace a new name, especially for a congressman who left office 23 years ago. 25 miles down the corridor, the Wilmington station was named for the Vice President who is still in office, but does anyone call it Biden Station? And there had also been a movement to name 30th Street Station for Ben Franklin (as if there aren't any other things in Philly already named for him like a museum and a street and a square and a bridge), but I believe that mercifully went nowhere. Luckily they told Ben to go fly a kite in a thunder storm.

[KevinKorell]

CBS Philly, 7/29/14:

US House OKs Plan To Rename Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station

A bipartisan bill to rename Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station in honor of former US congressman Bill Gray has been approved in the House, and now moves to the US Senate for consideration.

This story

[KevinKorell]

It happened. From WPVI-TV, ABC-6 in Philadelphia, PA, 8/9/14:

30th Street Station renamed for late congressman

With the stroke of a pen, 30th Street Station has been renamed to honor a giant in Philadelphia politics.

Gray Station

[KevinKorell]

Now it's happening, 3 years later.  I still doubt many will adapt the name Gray Station in their everyday vocabulary....   even if they paint it gray.

 

From Philly Voice, 10/6/17:

 

 

 

Amtrak finally commits to rename 30th Street Station

 

 

Amtrak officials have finally committed to renaming Philadelphia's 30th Street Station after the late Congressman William H. Gray III – a move mandated by Congress three years ago.

 

Update

[EvergreenRailfan]

Here we have bridges that have an official name that nobody uses. The Evergreen Point floating bridge is named after the Governor that built it, and then there is the Aurora Bridge, officially the George Washington Bridge. The kicker was naming an airport after Senator Henry M. Jackson, but it quickly reverted to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. So far no plans to return to King Street Station to it's original name, since a building across the street uses it.

[KevinKorell]

Nothing happens quickly.... still talking about this 5+ years later.  From Progressive Railroading, 7/8/19:

 

 

Amtrak begins Philadelphia station's name change

 

 

 

Last week, Amtrak began taking steps to officially rename the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia in honor of the late William Gray III, a former U.S. congressman who died six years ago.

 

It continues