FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 15, 013 ATK-13-087 Contact: Craig Schulz 30 683.19 AMTRAK MAKING MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO PHILADELPHIA 30 TH STREET STATION $35 million investment to upgrade West Plaza, facade and elevators PHILADELPHIA Amtrak will continue work this summer and fall on several upgrades at Philadelphia 30 th Street Station to improve the passenger experience, tend to the long-term infrastructure needs of the nearly 100 year-old building and improve pedestrian mobility in and around the facility. The projects represent about a $35 million investment. 30 th Street Station is an iconic fixture in Philadelphia, said Stephen Gardner, Amtrak vice president of Northeast Corridor infrastructure and investment development. As stewards of this national historic landmark we are committed to maintaining its status as a first-class facility for passengers and further integrating the station into the vital University City neighborhood. Passengers should expect to see evidence of these construction projects in and around the main concourse and pedestrian areas of the station in the coming months. Some entrances to the building will be temporarily closed and services relocated throughout the construction period, with appropriate signage indicating alternate points of access. There will be no disruption or alteration to train service as a result of the construction. Listed below are summaries of the major initiatives Amtrak is undertaking as components of the station renovation project: West Plaza Renovation Since Fall 01, crews have been working on a $30 million Amtrak-funded reconstruction project along the west side of 30 th Street Station that features a redesigned pedestrian plaza and reinforced basement structure. The new plaza, scheduled for completion by Thanksgiving, will - more -
- - ATK 013-087 improve vehicle traffic and pedestrian flow around the station, enhance lighting for better security and visibility, provide safer walking and driving conditions and expand public parking. Below-ground work on the parking deck and basement will continue through 014 to fortify the infrastructure and improve parking conditions. Facade Restoration Amtrak begins Phase I of a multi-million dollar restoration of the exterior facade of 30 th Street Station with installation of a temporary sidewalk canopy system that will be erected around the sides of the building. The canopy will keep pedestrians safe and provide a weatherproof area under which to access the station while funding for Phase II (the remainder of the facade restoration) is identified. Construction of the canopy will begin this month and be paid for with approximately $ million of Amtrak funds. Elevator Replacement Passenger elevators that connect the train platforms with the main concourse will be replaced, along with elevators that service the employee office towers in the upper floors of the building. Some equipment, dating to the 1930s, is beyond the scope of repair and needs to be replaced. This is a $3 million Amtrak-funded project with work scheduled to begin this fall. 30 th Street Station is the third busiest station in the Amtrak system and served more than four million passengers in FY 01, with connections to SEPTA and New Jersey Transit commuter rail services and other local transportation options. About Amtrak : Amtrak is America s Railroad, the nation s intercity passenger rail service and its high-speed rail operator. A record 31. million passengers traveled on Amtrak in FY 01 on more than 300 daily trains at speeds up to 150 mph (41 kph) that connect 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian Provinces. Amtrak operates intercity trains in partnership with 15 states and contracts with 13 commuter rail agencies to provide a variety of services. Enjoy the journey at Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL for schedules, fares and more information. Join us on facebook.com/amtrak and follow us at twitter.com/amtrak. # (fact sheet attached) #
30TH STREET STATION Philadelphia, PA Station Improvements INTRODUCTION TO 30TH STREET STATION IMPROVEMENTS The Amtrak 30th Street Station is a major multimodal transportation center for the Philadelphia region. Located in West Philadelphia, the station serves Amtrak s high speed Acela Express, Northeast Regionals and short and long distance train services. In addition, the station serves the commuter operations of both SEPTA and New Jersey Transit. Fiscal Year 01 was a banner year for Amtrak as it reached a ridership record of 31. million passengers. For its part, 30th Street Station saw more than 4 million passengers pass through its station last year. In the next few months, Amtrak will be engaged in several projects at 30th Street Station- West Plaza Project, Facade Restoration Project and Elevator Replacement Project. These projects are intended to improve the passenger experience making 30th Street Station easier and safer to access for all. 1 STATION FAST FACTS 30th Street Station opened in 1933 Approximately 10 Amtrak trains; 960 SEPTA trains; and 6 NJ Transit trains each weekday 4,068,540 Amtrak passengers in FY1 made it the 3rd busiest station in the national network Served by Amtrak; SEPTA commuter rail, buses, trolleys, and subway; and New Jersey Transit commuter rail 30th Street Station Improvements Amtrak Northeast Corridor Infrastructure & Investment Development
West Plaza Improvement Rendering WEST PLAZA PROJECT OVERVIEW Amtrak is currently working to renovate the West Plaza along 30th Street between Market and Arch streets. The work involves permanently replacing deteriorated structural columns, beams and surface decking of the under-street parking facility below the station. The work also includes remedying the water infiltration problems throughout the facility; sandblasting, inspecting, replacing and painting the structural steel below the north parking deck that has not already been improved or replaced. Once completed, the plaza will have new sidewalks and drive lanes, improving access and circulation throughout the west plaza. In addition, a new drainage structure and waterproofing system will be installed and the parking deck renovation below the west plaza will provide additional parking at the station. Budget Timeline Funding Partners Contractor $30 Million Construction started October 01; Plaza work completed by Thanksgiving 013; Parking deck/basement expected completion Sept. 014. Amtrak PennDOT Shoemaker Construction Company Improved pedestrian and vehicular movement More lighting for security and visibility Safer walking and driving conditions More parking for cars 30th Street Station Improvements Amtrak Northeast Corridor Infrastructure & Investment Development
CANOPY TO EXTEND FACADE RESTORATION PROJECT OVERVIEW Amtrak has identified areas of the station facade that are deteriorating and in need of repair. In an effort to ensure the safety of all users of the station, Amtrak is installing a sidewalk canopy system around the perimeter of the station. The sidewalk canopy system will be in place indefinitely, until funding is made available to make long term repairs of the station s exterior. The full repair of the station s exterior including repair of limestone, cleaning of facade and waterproofing will cost an estimated $60 million and take two to three years to complete. ELEVATOR REPLACEMENT OVERVIEW Amtrak is planning to replace the passenger elevators that connect the train platforms with the main concourse, along with elevators that service the employee office towers in the upper floors of the building. Some equipment, dating to the 1930s, is beyond the scope of repair and needs to be replaced. Budget Timeline Funding Contractor $ Million Installation of sidewalk canopy system will begin Summer 013 and take 90 days to complete. Amtrak Superior Scaffold Services Budget $3 Million Timeline Fall 013 Funding Amtrak Contractor To Be Determined Amtrak is taking proactive, protective and preventive action to ensure the safety of rail passengers, employees and others accessing 30th Street Station. Improved reliability Improved passenger experience 11'-7"± MAINTAIN EGRESS TO PORTICOS HIGH CANOPY REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN NORMAL FLOW OF TRAFFIC WEST PORTICO 37'-1"± 69'-4"± 18'-6"± 69'-4"± 36'-5"± 80'-8"± 65'-0"± 11'-4"± 3'-8"± EXISTING CANOPY 19'-5"± HIGH CANOPY REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN NORMAL FLOW OF TRAFFIC 173'-6"± 150'-0"± 316'-1"± 11'-8"± MAINTAIN EGRESS TO PORTICOS EAST PORTICO 639'-7"± 17'-3"± 5'-11"± NOTE: JERSEY TRAFFIC BARRIERS TO BE PLACED BY CONTRACTOR FOR PROTECTION OF CANOPY. INTO BLOCKED OFF PARKING LANE AS NECESSARY CANOPY TO BE ERECTED AROUND EXISTING LIGHT POLES 9'-0" MIN @ SIDEWALK (16'-0" @ DRIVES) 9'-0" MIN @ SIDEWALKS (16'-0" MIN @ DRIVES) 1) MAINTAIN ALL MEANS OF EGRESS FOR THE BUILDING. 8'-0" MAX ELEVATION SCALE: 1/8" = 1'-0" 8'-0" MIN SECTION 3 SCALE: 1/8" = 1'-0" 8'-0" MAX PLY-WOOD PARAPET SIDE WALK LIGHTING TO BE INSTALLED BY CONTRACTOR 3 CANOPY PLAN 1 SCALE: 1/3" = 1'-0" N WJE ENGINEERS ARCHITECTS MATERIALS SCIENTISTS Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. 10 South LaSalle Street, Suite 600 Chicago, Illinois 60603 31.37.0555 tel 31.37.0873 fax Headquarters & Laboratories: Northbrook, Illinois Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit Honolulu Houston Los Angeles Minneapolis New Haven New York Princeton San Francisco Seattle Washington, D.C. Above: Sidewalk Canopy System Plan CANOPY PLAN