Following the recent $55 million Dilworth Park reconstruction, which opened on City Hall's west apron late last year, SEPTA has now announced that a $150 million makeover of the subway complex beneath City Hall is set to commence early 2016.
Two stations are slated for renovation: the 15th Street Station on the Market-Frankford El, and the City Hall Station on the Broad Street line. And a lot is on the docket: making the stations brighter and roomier, eliminating bottlenecks on those somewhat creepy connector passageways, and adding, oh no big deal, just 13 elevators to improve accessibility. Finally.
About 29,000 riders enter the two stations from the street each workday, and thousands more use the free interchange service between the Orange and Blue lines. But don't expect any changes overnight. From the Inky:
The reconstruction of the 15th Street station is to be completed in 2018, and the City Hall station is to be finished by 2020, said Robert L. Lund Jr., SEPTA assistant general manager for engineering, maintenance, and construction.
But here's the kicker: while the 15th Street station will be kept open through construction, City Hall station may need to be closed during at least part of the work.
· Downtown subway makeover will take years and cost $150M [The Inky]
· Green space at Dilworth Park Opening [Curbed Philly]