SEPTA Reopens Key Transit Hub in West Philadelphia
October 10, 2017
Today SEPTA was joined by Congressman Dwight Evans, Philadelphia Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, other elected officials and neighborhood leaders for a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony at SEPTA’s newly reconstructed Bus Loop and key transit hub at 61st & Pine Streets in West Philadelphia.
The Loop is now a fully reconstructed facility that includes safety enhancements, added accessibility and a variety of other upgrades. The Loop is an end point for the Route 42 Bus, which is one of SEPTA’s busiest, serving a daily ridership of nearly 13,000.
"This is an important project for our customers, transportation operations and the communities served by our transit hubs,” said SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel. “This facility is also part of the fabric of the community, so it was important to SEPTA to demonstrate our commitment to be good neighbors by investing in the 61st and Pine Bus Loop.”
Improvements delivered under the $2.3 million capital initiative project include:
• A new driveway, new curbs and a new passenger boarding platform that are accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Installation of energy efficient lighting and improved security features• Construction of an open-air passenger waiting shelter
• Installation of site amenities including trash cans, bike racks and fencing
• Landscaping of the site; new signage throughout the facility
“SEPTA has done not only a phenomenal project here at 61st & Pine Streets, but it has also shown it can be a perfect partner in terms of the seniors in this area, going the extra mile to fix this site up in a fantastic way,” said Philadelphia City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell. “I am overjoyed. This is one of the best projects I have ever been involved in.”
Effective today, the Bus Loop at 61st & Pine is open for business!
The 61st and Pine Bus Loop project is part of the overall “Rebuilding the SEPTA System” capital improvement plan. The Authority is embarking on long-needed upgrades throughout the system thanks to Pennsylvania Act 89, which was passed in November 2013 to provide a dedicated source of funding for transportation improvements throughout the Commonwealth. For more information on “Rebuilding the SEPTA System,” visit www.septa.org/rebuilding.
