Amtrak selects preferred plan for Philadelphia station development

Amtrak earlier this month unveiled a final preferred concept for its Philadelphia 30th Street Station Plaza.

The plan addresses future needs and shortcomings of the area surrounding the historic station. Built in 1934, 30th Street is Amtrak's third-busiest station, with direct rail connections to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and New Jersey Transit, as well as bus, subway and trolley connections.

The 107-page proposal was developed in conjunction with FXFOWLE, !melk, JMT and Arup.

"Increased rail traffic in the coming years for Amtrak and SEPTA will necessitate the redesign and upgrading of rail operations at 30th Street Station, while bus activity is also predicted to increase," states the proposal's executive summary. "This growth in transit use will result in a surge of pedestrian activity. The concept plan ensures that the 30th Street Station Plaza develops to meet current needs and accounts for the planned future growth of the neighborhood and anticipated increases in train ridership."

The plan identifies the critical functions and primary uses of the plaza, as well as planning principles to establish design guidelines.

The plan addresses key issues, such as vehicle pickup and drop-off; vehicle parking; bicycle circulation and parking; pedestrian access; coordination with other infrastructure projects; landscape design; and security.

The concept plan can be read here.