After all these years, we still haven’t come up with a better name than ‘30th Street Station’?

For decades, I’ve walked through 30th Street Station more times than I can count, and every time, I’ve thought the same thing: This name doesn’t belong here.

“30th Street Station” is not a real name. It’s a location. A coordinate. A missed opportunity. And for a city as storied as Philadelphia, the cradle of liberty, the birthplace of American democracy, it’s downright demeaning.

With America’s 250th anniversary fast approaching, we have a powerful opportunity to change that. I propose we rename the station Independence Station, a name that reflects who we are and what we represent, both to ourselves and to the world. This is more than branding; it’s about civic identity and civic pride. And it’s overdue.

Around the country and the world, great train stations don’t just mark where you are. They say something about who you are. New York has Grand Central Terminal. Washington and Chicago have Union Station. London has St. Pancras. Paris has Gare du Nord. Tokyo, Berlin, Rome, and others all have civic or geographic names that reflect stature, symbolism, or centrality. Philadelphia has “30th Street.” It’s as if we gave up halfway through christening it.

Imagine stepping off a train and seeing signage for Independence Station — a name that connects instantly to the city’s soul. That ties the past to the present. That reminds travelers, students, businesspeople, and tourists: This is where the American idea began. That’s the kind of identity our city deserves. That’s the kind of name that lifts a station into the status of being a genuine landmark.

In 2014, Congress formally designated the station as “William H. Gray III 30th Street Station” to honor a very good man and a respected leader. Rep. Gray broke barriers as the first Black majority whip in U.S. history and served Philadelphia with distinction. His legacy matters, and it should remain visible and honored. That’s why I’m not proposing we erase that name. I’m proposing we enhance it.

A revised name, “William H. Gray III Independence Station,” does both. It keeps the federal honor intact while replacing the lifeless “30th Street” label with something worthy of Philadelphia’s place in history.

Other cities have used similar hybrid naming models to preserve legacy and elevate identity. Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station in New York is a prime example, honoring a statesman while keeping a landmark name intact. This isn’t an erasure. It’s a clarification. And it’s a civic upgrade.

The upcoming America250 celebration is hopefully bringing more than $250 million in new investment to Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. Committees are forming. Events are being planned. Institutions are preparing for global attention. What better way to mark the moment than to rename our central gateway to Independence Station?

This name would appear on every ticket, every travel app, every map, every arrival.

It would send a message not just to visitors, but to residents that we know who we are, and we’re not afraid to show it.

It would remind all of us that this city still leads the way.

Some may say there are bigger issues. But I would argue that civic identity matters more than ever. We need symbols that unify, names that mean something, places that remind us where we came from and what we aspire to.

We need Independence Station.

I’m calling on Amtrak, city leaders, state officials, and Congress to consider this proposal seriously and urgently. The window is narrow. But having a name that honors both Rep. Gray and the spirit of 1776 is one Philadelphia can be proud of.

Let’s make sure when America comes to Philadelphia in 2026, it doesn’t just arrive at a station, it arrives at a statement.

Jim Ludlow produces the “Good Government Show” podcast and is the founder of Liquid Interactive. He resides in Fogelsville, Pa.