Closures tied to 30th Street Station redesign coming in January
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A rendering of the main concourse dining area in 30th Street Station. Renderings: Courtesy of Plenary Infrastructure Philadelphia
The first major construction phase of the redesign of 30th Street Station will begin in January.
Why it matters: The nearly century-old West Philly station is the third-busiest in the nation and is expected to see ridership double by 2040.
What's happening: Amtrak unveiled new details and renderings for its $550 million project of the 1933 station earlier this month.
- The overall project, which began in 2021, is expected to be completed in phases by the end of 2027, per the project's website.
- Privately-owned Plenary Infrastructure Philadelphia, a partner with Amtrak on the project, will maintain and manage the station through 2071.
Of note: Service and operations at the transit hub, officially the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, will continue during construction.
Details: The South Concourse (where the food court and retail shops are located) will close for renovations starting in January, per the project website.
- The Market Street Plaza, which includes the outdoor public space area known as the Porch, will also close to traffic and pedestrians. Work will begin on new escalators and elevators at that time.
- Retail businesses will relocate to kiosks in the Main Concourse.
The big picture: The redesign includes:
- Upgrading and expanding public spaces, like Market Street Plaza and a potential farmers market.
- A new food hall and sit-down restaurant.
- Refurbishing the Metropolitan Lounge and restoring the Main Concourse.
Plus: Expect separate pick-up and drop-off areas for taxis and ride-sharing services, and updates to Amtrak's corporate office.
1 cool thing: The station's beloved former flipboard, whose iconic "clickety-clack" sound announced train times since the early 1970s before being removed in 2019, is returning, per the Inquirer.
Yes, but: The board will not be functional when installed in 2027.
