Background

Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station is one of Pennsylvania’s busiest intermodal stations serving Amtrak, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), and New Jersey Transit. Combined the three agencies saw more than 11 million passenger trips at the station in FY13. This number will definitely rise in the coming years as demand for passenger rail continues to grow. Add to that, the increasing numbers of commercial and residential developments in the area by Drexel University, Brandywine Realty Trust, University of Pennsylvania, and others and you have an area primed for transformation. 

With development plans springing up all over, Amtrak, Brandywine Realty Trust, Drexel, and SEPTA joined forces to develop a joint plan for the area.  Recognizing that the involvement of specific stakeholders would lead to the production of a master plan capable of being implemented, the team reached out to adjacent property owners, governmental entities and departments, and non-profit entities representing private and community interests. Thus a collaborative master-planning process for the 30th Street Station District was born.

The Philadelphia 30th Street District Plan was completed in June 2016. The plan is now in implementation phase, with various efforts underway by the District Plan partners.