Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) officials gathered with elected officials, community leaders and other stakeholders, to celebrate the completion of a new parking garage in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
The Lansdale Parking Garage is a welcome amenity for the thousands of commuters that use the Lansdale train station each day and a nod to the Borough's rich railroad history. The name Lansdale came from Chief Pennsylvania Railroad Surveyor, Philip Lansdale Fox. Fox thought the area was full of possibilities and that it would be an ideal location for a railroad station. Lansdale Station opened for service in October of 1856 and the town's population steadily increased with the presence of the railroad. The borough was incorporated on August 24, 1872.
"In keeping with the vision Philip Lansdale Fox had, SEPTA and the Borough of Lansdale have formed a bond that is creating new opportunities for residents, commuters and visitors centered around this key transit hub," SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel said. "Cooperation on this initiative has been extraordinary and the new parking facility will be a catalyst for smart growth opportunities in Lansdale."
Construction on the $42.1 million project began in October 2015 and lasted for approximately 18 months. To accommodate displaced commuters during construction, SEPTA secured alternative parking locations, including the new 9th Street Station in Lansdale.
The Lansdale Parking Garage Project is part of a series of initiatives that are the result of close coordination between SEPTA and Lansdale Borough. In addition to the 9th Street train station, planned projects include relocation and integration of a bus stop along Railroad Avenue for the Routes 96 and 132, and coordination of the Borough's Streetscape and Liberty Trail projects.
Several mixed-use and residential developments planned for Lansdale Borough will increase ridership and parking demand at Lansdale Station. Lansdale Station is historically the most frequently used station along the Lansdale/Doylestown Line. Completion of the new garage ensures that SEPTA is poised to meet its increased ridership as well as the community's growing needs.
The project was made possible by Act 89, the state's comprehensive transportation funding law passed in November 2013. Act 89 has enabled SEPTA to embark on its Rebuilding the System program, a comprehensive initiative to reinvest in the transit network throughout the region.
"SEPTA has moved quickly to utilize Act 89 funds system-wide - making long-needed infrastructure upgrades and replacing equipment that has long out-lived its usefulness," said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon, Sr. "These efforts are critical to sustaining our transportation network, and growing economic development in the region and throughout the state."
A signature initiative of the Rebuilding the System program, the new Lansdale Parking Garage is located on the inbound side of the Lansdale Train Station. It delivers a number of modern amenities to riders including:
- A multi-story structure with 680 spaces;
- Built-in electronic signage will direct drivers to available parking spots;
- A tire inflation station will help customers save on fuel consumption;
- Energy efficient LED lighting was installed inside and out;
- A pedestrian overpass will provide a direct connection to the Madison Avenue Transit Oriented Development project.
- Improvements were also made to Lansdale Train Station's surface parking lots and main entrance.
The parking garage project is the result of close coordination between SEPTA, PennDOT and the Borough of Lansdale working together to enhance train service access for Montgomery County.
