Philadelphia (WTXF) On Friday, SEPTA unveiled the new west terminal at the 69 th Street Transportation Center.
With the cutting of a ribbon, the 69 th street station got a facelift as part of SEPTA's Rebuilding for the Future program. According to SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel, the unveiling of the new west terminal marks a new age for this transportation hub that has been integral in the lives of the Upper Darby Community.
"For more than 100 years, 69th Street Transportation Center has been an important transit hub for thousands of people traveling to and from Delaware, Philadelphia, Montgomery and Chester counties. The construction of the Market-Frankford Line in 1907 was instrumental in the economic growth of Upper Darby and the surrounding community. Now, 109 years later, we believe the new state-of-the-art West Terminal and other projects in the works will serve as similar catalysts for this region, attracting new commercial ventures and visitors to Upper Darby."
The 69 th street station is an important point that connects many of Philadelphia's transportation lines like SEPTA's Market-Frankford Line, Norristown High Speed Line, Trolley Routes 101 and 102 and 18 bus routes.
According to SEPTA, The west terminal has added many new features including reconstructed pedestrian ramps, a partially reconstructed south platform, and more cameras the will hopefully aide safety and security efforts.
Additionally, in an effort to be more eco-friendly, there is now a "green wall and green roofs to reduce storm water drainage; energy efficient LED lighting; and architectural elements in the passenger waiting area that will allow for increased natural light and reduced energy use"
According to SEPTA, the cost of the improvements total around $1.69 million. The project was funded by the Federal Transit Administration Bus and Bus Facility Livability Grant Program and Pennsylvania Act 89.
For more information about the project visit the SEPTA website.