SEPTA is dedicated to the renewal of its Regional Rail infrastructure.  Working to build and enhance transit stations, facilities, and vehicles is a highly effective strategy that tangibly demonstrates the value and importance of our service to existing customers while helping to attract new riders.  Recent projects at Fort Washington (Lansdale/Doylestown Line) and Cheltenham Stations (Fox Chase Line) are two recent examples of capital investment programs designed to enhance the travel environment for customers.

While the construction tasks for these stations were not out of the ordinary, these were innovative projects because of the unique deployment of financial and labor assets.  Following a new “hybrid” approach established by SEPTA’s Engineering, Maintenance, and Construction (EM&C) division, the capital programs for these stations combined third party and internal workforces to maximize the effectiveness of resources, reduce costs, and shorten the schedule to complete the work. 

A closer look at the new high level platform at Cheltenham Station.

Looking for ways to maximize the spending power of valuable capital resources EM&C evaluated the advantages of and opportunities to effectively combine in-house forces and third party and subcontracted services in the completion of small to medium sized projects.  What they found was that by expanding the use of third party/ subcontracted elements within a capital project, they could leverage outside expertise with the strengths of internal resources to increase overall productivity and cost effectiveness.

Part of the reconstruction project included the addition of fully accessible ramps and platforms for our disabled riders.

These reconstruction projects are an innovative example of the Authority’s ability to blend internal and external work components to successfully complete a capital project.  In establishing the work scope, the project team specified the use of pre-cast platforms, foundations, stairs; prefabricated station building, steel canopies, windscreens, station roofing, and railings; along with paving, landscaping, and utility tie-ins.  Of the $6 million budget for the Fort Washington project, approximately $3 million was allocated to third party provided and installed elements.
 
Work at both Fort Washington and Cheltenham Stations was completed in approximately 18 months with significant infrastructure and ADA improvements including:

The new station house at Cheltenham Station on the Fox Chase (R8) line.

The construction of high-level passenger platforms.  These platforms, level with the floor of the train car, create a fully ADA accessible station for customers using wheelchairs, and improve train dwell time.  The construction of high-level passenger platforms.  These platforms, level with the floor of the train car, create a fully ADA accessible station for customers using wheelchairs, and improve train dwell time. New station buildings and canopies.  Within the station area, customers can now purchase tickets and receive travel information from a Ticket Agent, relax in a new Passenger Waiting Room or use the new restroom facilities. New station amenities.  Stairs, ramps, sidewalks, lighting, and signage were all updated or added to complete the renewal of these Regional Rail stations.

Fort Washington Station also received an important customer safety feature – a pedestrian underpass connecting both inbound and outbound platforms.  This passageway eliminates the need to cross active railroad tracks.  As part of a separate project, 585 additional parking spaces were added to the station’s customer lot.

The real bottom-line on these reconstruction projects is SEPTA’s ability to effectively use the best of its internal and external resources to complete all of the necessary improvement work within the timeframe established for the project.

SEPTA is committed to reconstructing and enhancing station facilities for our customers.

SEPTA relies upon its internal construction resources to build and enhance station facilities for customers.  Combining the work power of these crews with third party contractors enables the Authority to be successful in moving forward a comprehensive capital investment program in our stations and facilities.