SEPTA Planning Short-Term Cleanup, Long-Term Repairs For City Hall Station
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Septa's underground transportation hub beneath Philadelphia's City Hall will be getting a much need makeover. But it's not going to happen overnight.
Those dark, dingy, decaying underground corridors -- used by thousands of commuters daily to access the Market-Frankford El, the Broad Street Subway, and underground trolley platforms -- have seen better days. But soon, thanks to some state funding, the much-delayed, $150-million project will move forward in April of next year.
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Septa notes that it is a major undertaking. In fact, massive beams that support City Hall will have to be "unpinned" -- moved -- to make way for elevators which will provide handicapped access to platforms.
"Have patience with us with this undertaking," pleads Bob Lund, Septa's assistant general manager for engineering, maintenance, and construction. "It's not something that can be done quickly." He says all or part of the City Hall station may need to be closed for some of the work.
One commuter today, Dolly Scott-Payne, of the Brewerytown section of the city, says she is not looking forward to be corralled around the work, which is expected to be completed in 2020.
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"It would be nice to have it beautified that way, making it a nice representation of our city," she admits. "However, as a daily commuter, I don't think a lot of people are going to really appreciate those detours."
In the meantime, Septa has plans to clean, patch, and paint the underground complex before the papal visit in September.