SEPTA has been awarded a $300,000 federal grant to study the conditions and opportunities created along the corridor formed by the ends-of-line for its Route 11 and 13 trolley services in Darby and Yeadon boroughs in Delaware County. The grant is one of 19 projects awarded funding by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) through the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning.
Through the Routes 11 & 13 End of Line Improvements Area Study, SEPTA will assess the possibilities for transit-oriented development along a nearly 3-mile corridor that encompasses the Darby Transportation Center, Yeadon Loop and downtown Darby. The study will also evaluate stop consolidation alternatives, station area urban design, develop street design concepts, evaluate intermodal connections, review flood mitigation and electrical infrastructure needs and prepare public outreach strategies. The project also proposes to evaluate the potential for extending SEPTA’s route 102 Trolley Line to Darby Transportation Center.
The planning effort will also support SEPTA’s Trolley Modernization program. Trolley Modernization is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for SEPTA and the region to transform one of the nation’s largest trolley networks, delivering benefits across the region. Trolley Modernization will replace the 40-year-old trolley fleet with ADA-accessible vehicles and modernize station and street track infrastructure to create a fully accessible trolley system while improving capacity and reliability for transit-dependent communities and the region’s essential workers. Along with the Blossom at Bartram Complete Streets Project, this study highlights SEPTA’s comprehensive vision for how trolley network improvements can achieve broader transportation goals and increase access to opportunity and affordable housing.
“SEPTA’s Trolley system provides vital transportation and access to work, school and essential services for thousands of customers every day,” said SEPTA General Manager and CEO Leslie S. Richards. “As work on Trolley Modernization advances, we are grateful that this grant funding will allow SEPTA to study ways our service, and the improvements we are planning, will improve mobility options and promote connectivity and economic development in the vibrant communities we serve.”
The Routes 11 & 13 End of Line Improvements Area Study will include a robust public outreach program in support of a wide range of deliverables, including a preferred concept plan for the corridors, market analysis, density and massing studies, multi-modal network and land use integration, proposed land use and zoning code changes, and project development documents.
“I’m pleased to see federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to flow into our region to improve SEPTA service,” said U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon. “Improving public transportation is key to boosting our local economy – helping our families and workers get to and from work, school, and other essential destinations every day. This investment will allow our region to seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform one of the nation’s largest trolley networks and give our transit-dependent communities the accessible and reliable transportation they need to thrive.”
“Delaware County is pleased that SEPTA has secured this grant to study potential improvements to SEPTA trolley service in Darby, Yeadon, Sharon Hill and Collingdale,” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. “The County has advocated that trolley service between Yeadon and Darby on the Route 13 trolley line be improved. The study of transit-oriented development will also help as SEPTA introduces new light-rail vehicles on these routes and attempts to connect the routes better.”
Trolley Modernization is a key initiative of SEPTA Forward, the Authority’s Strategic Plan, to create a “lifestyle transit network” connecting to destinations across the region by providing accessible, fast, and easy service on the trolley system.
For details on SEPTA Forward initiatives, please visit https://planning.septa.org. For more information about Trolley Modernization, please visit https://planning.septa.org/initiatives/trolley-modernization/about//.
