SEPTA Taps Michael Baker International for Broad Street Line ADA Improvements
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor, Railway Age
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) on April 27 announced that Michael Baker International, Inc. has been selected for architectural, design and construction-related services for the Logan, Wyoming and Hunting Park Stations on the Broad Street Line.
These stations, SEPTA says, were built decades before the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are currently only accessible via stairs. Thanks to federal infrastructure funding, SEPTA says it is “committed to making all stations on the Broad Street Line and Market-Frankford Line accessible.”
The $6,542,831 contract with Michael Baker International, Inc. will progress the design of Logan, Wyoming, and Hunting Park Stations to 100%, according to the agency. Once design is completed, SEPTA says it can advance on the construction phase. Improvements that will make these stations fully ADA accessible and in a state of good repair include elevator installation; platform renovation; new signage, lighting, and security cameras; and waterproofing.
SEPTA says it has prioritized accessibility on the Broad Street Line in its 12-Year Capital Program. In addition to the three Broad Street Line stations that will advance with the Board approval, SEPTA says it is nearly finished with an ADA improvement project at Susquehanna-Dauphin Station, and construction is under way at Tasker-Morris Station.
“Commencing design allows SEPTA to pursue competitive funding specifically for accessibility improvements at legacy rail stations,” said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon Sr. “SEPTA continues to work with state and local funding partners to identify additional resources to help leverage and maximize federal dollars to address SEPTA’s capital needs.”
“Station accessibility is a core component of SEPTA Forward, the Authority’s Strategic Plan,” said SEPTA General Manager and CEO Leslie S. Richards. “We have made significant progress in upgrading our infrastructure, and we will continue to prioritize enhancements across the system to make SEPTA easier to use and more equitable.”
