Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station and surrounding University City will be getting an upgrade. After an announcement from Amtrak last week, the plaza will kick off a 6.5 billion dollar redevelopment on the riverfront spanning a 35 year plan.
The 30th Street Station also serves as the center of Philadelphia’s regional SEPTA train service. The proposed redesign seeks to integrate the two systems seamlessly to serve its 11 million riders, allotting space to accommodate any future increase of commuters, as well as incorporating a taxi drop off zone near the train platforms to alleviate traffic patterns around the station.
The new design also addresses pedestrian concerns, making the station more accessible and easier to navigate for foot traffic. Benches, planters, and fountains will be added to separate the parking infrastructure from pedestrian only areas, as well as multiple car-free green spaces, and a 220 unit bike station with lockers and rental options.
Amtrak seeks developers to bring this vision to life, with projected ground breaking in 2020. You can read the full proposal, here[1].
