SEPTA Commemorates 40th Street Station Accessibility Improvements
December 4, 2017
SEPTA joined elected officials including U.S. Representative Dwight Evans, Philadelphia City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and State Senator Vincent Hughes along with community leaders and advocates from the disability community to celebrate the completion of the 40th Street Station Improvement Project, which includes the installation of two new elevators that provide direct access from the street to the subway level fare line. These enhancements streamline service for riders to and from the station.
“I am extremely proud of the work we’ve done here,” said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D.Knueppel. “Thousands of SEPTA customers utilize 40th Street Station along our Market-FrankfordLine to connect to the growing residential, educational and medical campuses of University City. With the new elevators in place, we can now provide full ADA accessibility for all riders at thiscritical transit hub.”
Approximately 187,000 customers use the Market-Frankford Line each day, with nearly 7,000 traveling through 40th Street Station. Located at the corner of 40th and Market Streets, 40th Street Station serves University of Pennsylvania students, faculty and employees, the University City Business District and is a vital gateway via public transit into West Philadelphia. The station also provides a connection to SEPTA Bus Routes 30 and 40.
Improvements made to 40th Street Station under the $9.23 million project include:
• Installation of two new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant elevators at the northeast and southwest corners of 40th and Market Streets.
• Station and pedestrian way-finding signage, along with upgraded doors, gates, and employee facilities.
• Architectural enhancements including tile work; structural and concrete repairs, painting,flooring and ceiling systems
• New stair and elevator headhouses.
The new headhouses incorporate public art installations named “Nexus,” as part of SEPTA’s Art in Transit Program. Nexus, which was done with community input and participation, features colorful patterns on each of the four headhouses depicting the Philadelphia Street Grid, with a focus on the station’s location at 40th and Market Streets. Artists Marianne Lovink and Scott Eunson designed the artwork so that the colorful patterns on each headhouse reflect Philadelphia’s interconnectedness, the flow of its waterways, its public green spaces and the digital information systems that link residents together to share ideas and communicate. SEPTA’s Art in Transit Program incorporates artistic elements into renovation and construction projects at select stations and public transportation facilities.
Improvements to 40th Street Station were made possible with funding from Act 89, the state’s comprehensive transportation funding law which was passed in November 2013 to provide a long term, dedicated funding source for capital improvements to transportation across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. SEPTA has embarked on efforts across the region to bring the system into a state of good repair utilizing Act 89 funds.
For more information about SEPTA, visit www.septa.org.
