Philadelphia International Airport has received two grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a platform improvements project at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) Airport Regional Rail Line stops.
The airport received US$500,000 from the Multimodal Transportation Program and US$424,900 from PennDOT’s Aviation Transportation Assistance Program, Aviation Development Program, and Multimodal Fund for rehabilitating platforms and canopies at four stops on SEPTA’s Airport Line.
“Our airport serves more than 32 million passengers annually,” said Philadelphia International Airport’s CEO, Rochelle ‘Chellie’ Cameron. “With departures to and from Center City every 30 minutes, SEPTA’s Airport Line provides those visitors and airline crews flying in and out of Philadelphia with a convenient travel option to the city and the surrounding region. The rail line’s connection to many other SEPTA services makes the train a vital transportation necessity for many of the 21,000 airport employees.”
SEPTA’s Airport Line, which began service in 1985, provides 2.1 million annual trips to and from Philadelphia International Airport. Trains access all the airport’s terminals, with platforms at Terminals A, B, C/D and E/F. The funding received from the Commonwealth will provide necessary structural and aesthetic upgrades to all locations without impacting service. Work is anticipated to begin in May 2020.
“SEPTA and Philadelphia’s Division of Aviation have a vested interest in supporting and, when necessary, collaborating on, multimodal projects that help move our shared passengers to points across the Delaware Valley,” said SEPTA general manager Jeffrey D Knueppel. “The proposed work at the Airport Line stops will create an enhanced transit gateway for residents and visitors traveling to and from PHL.”
Philadelphia International Airport is owned and operated by the City of Philadelphia.