Amtrak, SEPTA, and NJ Transit passengers traveling through 30th Street Station in Philadelphia during the busy holiday season will once again be able to access the 30th Street side of the iconic building via a newly-reconstructed West Plaza. The plaza re-opens Friday, November 22ndand features 100 additional bike racks, expanded parking, and new outdoor seating options, among other improvements.

“The new West Plaza is an impressive link between historic 30th Street Station and the energetic youth of the surrounding University City neighborhood,” said Stephen Gardner, Amtrak Vice President of Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Investment Development. “As we progress a master plan for the station precinct, improvements like this that highlight interconnectivity will be crucial to realizing the maximum development potential of the area.”

The $30 million Amtrak-funded project also includes renovating the steel infrastructure beneath the pedestrian plaza, which will continue into 2014. Urban Engineers (Urban) is managing the rehabilitation of the street-level West Plaza, as well as the ongoing work on the basement-level parking garage. Additionally, Urban is overseeing a separate construction contract involving structural steel replacement and painting at the passenger platform level. Construction operations have been staged appropriately to allow minimal impact to 30th Street Station customers, local traffic, and railway operations.

“Millions of passengers depend on 30th Street Station every year for efficient and safe access to the region’s transportation system,” said Urban’s Project Manager, John DiValentino, PE, LEED®AP. “It’s been an honor to work on this iconic building given its history and value to Amtrak, the City of Philadelphia, and the tri-state region.”