SEPTA Unveils Improvements for Riders at City Hall & 15th Street Stations

Sept. 4, 2014
City hall early action phase complements Center City District’s Dilworth Park renovation.

SEPTA on Sept. 4 unveiled new entrances, fare lines, elevators and other amenities for commuters who access transit beneath the newly renovated Dilworth Park. This work is the first step in SEPTA’s long-term overhaul of the City Hall and 15th Street Stations, which serve riders on the Market-Frankford, Broad Street and City Trolley lines.

SEPTA marked completion of the $12.5 million initiative – the City Hall Early Action Phase – in conjunction with the Center City District’s Dilworth Park Project. Work to completely modernize SEPTA’s City Hall and 15th Street Stations will continue in phases in the coming years.

“We’re excited to see the results from the first part of the transformation of this vital transit hub into a world-class travel center,” said SEPTA General Manager Joseph M. Casey. “The City Hall and 15th Street Stations are true cornerstones for mass transit in Philadelphia, and with this project, will continue to be for future generations.”

Highlights of the City Hall Early Action Phase include:

  • Elevator access to the 15th Street Stations on the Market-Frankford and Trolley Lines. This includes three elevators installed by SEPTA, two of which connect the upper concourse to both sides of the Market-Frankford Line, and a third connecting the upper concourse to the eastbound Trolley platform. The Center City District will add two more elevators, one from the park area to the fare line level, and another that will operate from the park to the fare line and the westbound Trolley platform.
  • Two new fare lines equipped for the New Payment Technology fare modernization project.
  • Architectural finishes, energy efficient lighting, structural repairs and waterproofing.
  • Safety and security improvements, such as security cameras and fire alarm systems.
  • Audio/video public address system and new signage, including electronic message boards

The City Hall Early Action Phase work is SEPTA’s first major step in overhauling this transit hub. Work will continue with additional phases in coming years thanks to funding from Act 89, which was passed by the state Legislature and signed by Gov. Tom Corbett last year to provide a long-term, dedicated source of capital funding for transportation infrastructure improvements across Pennsylvania. With Act 89 in place, SEPTA is moving ahead with a plan entitled “Rebuilding for the Future,” which addresses the system’s most pressing needs while also laying the groundwork for future growth.