Planners in Philadelphia believe that the Franklin Square Station will achieve higher ridership figures than when the station closed 40 years ago, thanks to numerous large developments in the area.
"People visiting Independence Hall, Chinatown or Old City are one step closer to a transit option that’s been out commission for 40 years," reports Catalina Jaramillo.
"PATCO has won a $12.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to repair, remodel and reopen its abandoned Franklin Square Station located at Race Street between 6th and 7th streets. The station closed in 1979," adds Jamarillo. The grant was among the $900 million in BUILD grant funding announced earlier this week by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
"The project has been in the works for over 10 years, with the design phase starting two years ago. Its has a total budget of $30 million which includes civil, structural, mechanical and electrical improvements to bring it up to code. A new entrance building will be located at the corner of 7th and Race Street, with elevators to bring the station into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. PATCO executives said the rest of the budget will be funded by the Delaware River Port Authority."
Read the full story: PATCO gets $12.6M federal grant to reopen abandoned Franklin Square Station
SEPTA Proposes $400M From State Fund to Delay Service Cuts
The plan would stave off service cuts for two years, but even if approved, the agency plans to go ahead with fare hikes on September 14.
Sports Gambling Company Sponsors Suspended Philly Stadium Train Amidst SEPTA Cuts
After SEPTA announced it would have to cut the subway line that leads to Lincoln Field, FanDuel offered $80k to keep the train running for the season opener.
Judge Orders SEPTA to Stop Service Cuts, Fare Increases
The Philadelphia transit agency planned a ⅕ reduction in service and fare hikes to make up for its $213 million budget deficit.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
US buildings threatened, destroyed by fires set to triple by 2060
Researchers found a high fire risk for socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods in the American West.
LA residents may be allowed to paint their own crosswalks
Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky put out a motion instructing the Los Angeles Department of Public Transportation to study the feasibility of allowing volunteers to paint crosswalks.
Dallas moves to overhaul its zoning code
The city's zoning reform will allow more multi-family and mixed-use developments.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
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