SEPTA and Drexel University Announce Station Naming Rights Agreement
December 21, 2023
30th Street Station on the Market-Frankford Line and City Trolley Line will soon include the name of an iconic Philadelphia institution that is served by this transit hub.
Under a new naming rights agreement between SEPTA and Drexel University - the station will be transformed into Drexel Station at 30th Street.
This marks SEPTA’s most recent station naming rights agreement which helps generate revenue and deliver an improved experience for customers.
“SEPTA is proud to partner with Drexel on this exciting naming rights agreement,” said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon Sr. “These naming rights agreements are great opportunities for SEPTA to enhance service to the communities we serve and generate much-needed new revenues.”
The agreement gives Drexel exclusive naming rights for five years.
“We’re so proud to partner with SEPTA to put Drexel University's name on the station that serves as the gateway for so many of our students, faculty, professional staff, and community partners as they arrive on campus,” said Drexel President John Fry. “As new educational, research, and business development opportunities continue to grow in West Philadelphia - it is fitting for Drexel to welcome everyone to University City.”
30th Street Station is one of SEPTA’s most heavily used. It serves as a gateway to both Center City and University City with access to multiple modes of transit - including the Market-Frankford Line, City Trolley Lines, and Buses.
Regional Rail service is also available nearby at the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station.
Combined with the adjacent Drexel Square - Drexel Station at 30th Street will welcome visitors to Schuylkill Yards. Schuylkill Yards is a vibrant innovation district Drexel is developing in partnership with Brandywine Realty Trust in University City. Drexel Station is the latest step in the $3.5-billion Schuylkill Yards which began with the opening of Drexel Square in 2019.
Drexel has also partnered with Brandywine, Spark Therapeutics, Gattuso Development Partners, and Wexford Science and Technology in an effort to equitably bolster the neighborhood’s economic opportunities. Just a few blocks from the station - the University through these partnerships is creating new spaces for teaching and learning and for working and conducting research in life sciences and cell and gene therapy.
The naming agreement marks the latest development in Drexel’s longstanding relationship with SEPTA. The University was also one of the first partners in SEPTA Key Advantage in 2022 which offers benefit-eligible employees all-access SEPTA monthly transit passes.
“We are grateful to Drexel for recognizing SEPTA’s value to the city and region,” said SEPTA General Manager/CEO Leslie S. Richards. “We have long enjoyed a strong partnership with Drexel University and we are proud to have their name on one of our flagship stations. We look forward to the official unveiling of Drexel Station at 30th Street in the coming months.”
Drexel Station at 30th Street is undergoing extensive renovations. Improvements include new elevators, a new headhouse, upgraded lighting, and enhanced safety and security features. SEPTA has been closely coordinating with Drexel and community stakeholders throughout the project.
SEPTA and Drexel expect to unveil new signage and other enhancements for the transformation to Drexel Station at 30th Street early next year.
About Drexel University
Founded in 1891 in Philadelphia, Drexel is a nationally ranked, comprehensive research university recognized for its focus on experiential learning through cooperative education, its commitment to cutting-edge academic technology and its growing enterprise of use-inspired research. With more than 22,000 students, Drexel is one of the nation’s largest private universities. Drexel is poised to respond to novel opportunities for research, scholarship and technological development. The University is one of Philadelphia’s top private employers, and a major engine for equitable economic growth in Greater Philadelphia. For more information, please visit www.drexel.edu.
