Be nice to see that happen. I remember the old underground connection. Like something out of a post-apocalyptic movie scenario. This proposal looks like it will be far superior.
The Regional Rails which serve the Philly area suburbs (one line connects Philly and Trenton) do serve 30th St. Station. It's above the station and you take an escalator down. The Market-Frankford Line (MFL) does have a 30th Street stop. I forget because I haven't taken it in a while but I think you come out outside of the station?So the re-opening of the link would mostly benefit Amtrak to local transit riders, I suppose....SEPTA regional passenger's would more likely transfer to the subways at Suburban Station or Jefferson Station?
So it's the same tunnel, just remodeled and a skylight added?The linked article says they closed it in the 80's, due to its state of neglect, and high crime...like many other similar old transit passageways in various cities...
No, the proposed connection is not a reopening of the old tunnel.So it's the same tunnel, just remodeled and a skylight added?The linked article says they closed it in the 80's, due to its state of neglect, and high crime...like many other similar old transit passageways in various cities...
Great, thank you for the info, very informative! Is the old opening in the station to the old stairway still visible, or has it been covered up? Are there photos of the tunnel anywhere? I'm curious to see what it looked like...No, the proposed connection is not a reopening of the old tunnel.So it's the same tunnel, just remodeled and a skylight added?The linked article says they closed it in the 80's, due to its state of neglect, and high crime...like many other similar old transit passageways in various cities...
The old tunnel started with a stairway on the west side of 30th Street Station near where the Bridgewater Pub is located. It went down a long stairway and escalator, then ducked under the western-most lower level track. It then came back up another stairway and escalator to the mezzanine level of the subway station. It took a number of twists and turns in the process. Even forgetting how dirty it was and how intimidating at other than rush hours, it was a bit of a hike with all the climbs up and down. Unless the weather was really nasty, walking outside, across the street, and down the subway entrance was much easier.
The new connection will be built just outside the west side of the station where there is presently driveways and some parking. Since it will be west of the western-most lower-level track, it will just have be at the mezzanine level of the subway station. It will be fully enclosed, so that even though it is outside today's station, it will in essence extend the station a bit west. It will require one stairway, up or down, to get between the main station level and the subway mezzanine level. From the look of the rendering, it will be a much nicer connection than the old tunnel.
The old entrance stairway was covered. I believe the Bridgewater Pub may be partly on top of where the old stairway was located. If you look closely, you can see a slight color difference in the marble flooring where the opening used to be.Great, thank you for the info, very informative! Is the old opening in the station to the old stairway still visible, or has it been covered up? Are there photos of the tunnel anywhere? I'm curious to see what it looked like...No, the proposed connection is not a reopening of the old tunnel.So it's the same tunnel, just remodeled and a skylight added?The linked article says they closed it in the 80's, due to its state of neglect, and high crime...like many other similar old transit passageways in various cities...
The old tunnel started with a stairway on the west side of 30th Street Station near where the Bridgewater Pub is located. It went down a long stairway and escalator, then ducked under the western-most lower level track. It then came back up another stairway and escalator to the mezzanine level of the subway station. It took a number of twists and turns in the process. Even forgetting how dirty it was and how intimidating at other than rush hours, it was a bit of a hike with all the climbs up and down. Unless the weather was really nasty, walking outside, across the street, and down the subway entrance was much easier.
The new connection will be built just outside the west side of the station where there is presently driveways and some parking. Since it will be west of the western-most lower-level track, it will just have be at the mezzanine level of the subway station. It will be fully enclosed, so that even though it is outside today's station, it will in essence extend the station a bit west. It will require one stairway, up or down, to get between the main station level and the subway mezzanine level. From the look of the rendering, it will be a much nicer connection than the old tunnel.
Depends on where you're coming from/going to. If your destination is an Orange Line station, then you'd definitely want to transfer at Suburban Station. If your destination is a MFL or Green Line stop, then your transfer station depends somewhat on which side of Center City you're approaching from....SEPTA regional passenger's would more likely transfer to the subways at Suburban Station or Jefferson Station?
The 30th Street Station District plan website with links to the the final report (190 page 20 MB PDF), summary, and renderings.PHILADELPHIA – Amtrak, Brandywine Realty Trust, Drexel University, PennDOT and SEPTA today unveiled the Philadelphia 30th Street Station District Plan and announced the initiation of several follow-on projects to improve the immediate station area and catalyze future development throughout the District.
The Plan is a collaborative two-year joint planning effort to produce a single, integrated long-term vision for growth and development in the area surrounding 30th Street Station.
Forty new acres of open space and 18 million square feet of new development are envisioned in the Plan, including an entirely new mixed-use neighborhood anchoring the District atop 88 acres of rail yards along the western bank of the Schuylkill River.
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