Last year, Drexel President John Fry announced plans for the school and Amtrak to together develop a multi-million dollar feasibility study that looked into the possibility of developing the railyards around 30th Street Station.
30th Street Station from Market Street
This year, they’re moving ahead and recently issued an RFP for a master plan to redevelop the area immediately surrounding 30th Street Station, which in 2012 recorded record-high ridership. Amtrak forecasts predict a 59% increase in rail ridership and 41% increase in train volume in Philadelphia by 2030. Bids are due by November 18th, and a public process could begin by next year.
“Since then the project has evolved,” said Janet Campbell-Lorenc, of Amtrak, referring to the feasibility study announced last year.
Aerial view of the rail yards
The potential project represents a collaboration between numerous city and civic groups from both sides of the river. Since the study was announced last year, eight new civic partners have joined the development team, which already included Brandywine Realty Trust (the guys building the Cira towers) and Septa. The new partners are the City, the Schuylkill River Development Corporation, University City District, Penn, PennDot, CSX, and Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation. That means the idea of railyard development, which has been discussed in various incarnations in previous decades, like an amusement park and a baseball stadium, is legitimately picking up, uh, steam.
“We wouldn’t be wasting our time or money if we didn’t want to develop,” said Cambell-Lorenc.
The Master Plan will identify commercial development opportunities in the area surrounding 30th Street Station, and attempt to improve connectivity between the station and the neighboring community, including connections to the local, arterial, and interstate road network, pedestrian and bicycle, intercity bus and transit services.
In addition to considering adjoining planning and development efforts, community interests and state and regional planning initiatives among other factors, the endeavor will accommodate future Amtrak, NJ Transit and SEPTA ridership growth and evaluate all aspects of the passenger experience at 30th Street Station.
“The focus in the winter will be getting the design team engaged,” said Campbell-Lorenc.
Early ideas mentioned last year included a connector between the Art Museum and the west side of the river. A 2011 PennDesign vision for the Schuylkill railyards put forth the idea of creating a civic triangle between West Philly, Center City and the Art Museum. That connection would require major infrastructure changes like moving current Amtrak decking and relocating the southbound I-676 lane to the eastern side of the river.
Triangle between City Hall, 30th Street Station, and the Art Museum. Image from PennDesign report
The move towards a master plan was catalyzed by plans for Drexel’s Innovation Neighborhood, a plan for five million sqft of commercial office space, research laboratories, student housing and a hotel, according to Amtrak. With 30th Street Station now undergoing improvements, and the Cira Centre South tower now under construction nearby, it’s possible this is the beginning of a whole new 30th Street.
–Lou Mancinelli