As part of a federally funded renovation, SEPTA and Amtrak are planning to restore a tunnel that will reconnect their stations at 30th Street, write Essie Haverkamp, Nicholas Pompey, and Vinella Jill Vinca for Billy Penn at WHYY.

Currently, the Market-Frankford Line stops at 30th Street, but riders cannot reach Amtrak’s 30th Street Station without having to go above ground. They are forced to follow a route that has no wayfinding signage and crosses a street that funnels automobile traffic off the I-76 highway.

“The traffic around the station is terrible,” said Mike Cramer, president of the Powelton Village Civic Association. “The way people drive around there is so unpleasant and so dangerous.”

The civic association has long advocated for a change, and now they are getting their wish.

Work has already started on the $400 million effort to reconstruct Amtrak’s historic train hall. It is being spearheaded by the asset management group Plenary Infrastructure.

The project will include upgrades to facilities, interior, and grounds. A brand new concourse filled with amenities and shops will be added.

Additionally, there will be a stairwell that goes to a tunnel to SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line station.

Read more about the project to restore the connecting tunnel linking Amtrak and SEPTA’s stations at 30th Street in Billy Penn at WHYY.

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