Amtrak, partners announce joint planning effort for Philadelphia's 30th Street Station

Amtrak, Drexel University and Brandywine Realty Trust have selected Skidmore, Owings & Merrill L.L.P. (SOM), in association with Parsons Brinckerhoff, OLIN and HR&A Advisors, to develop a comprehensive joint master plan for the area around Philadelphia's 30th Street Station.

The consultants will develop new plans and "re-envision" existing planning efforts to create one plan for the station area, Amtrak officials announced yesterday. The SOM team will aim to make the station the center of community and economic development, and develop improved transportation options, they said in a press release.

The master plan will be guided by a coordinating committee comprising representatives from Amtrak, Drexel University, Brandywine Realty Trust, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, city of Philadelphia, New Jersey Transit, CSX Corp., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp., Schuylkill River Development Corp. and University City District.

Drexel University and its partners will fund the joint master plan, which is expected to take two years to complete.