Renovations at Amtrak’s William H. Gray III 30th Street Station in Philadelphia are now expected to be completed in 2027 with a revised project schedule, the passenger rail operator recently announced. Design and build contractor Gilbane Building Co. plans to use a phased approach so the station can remain open during work on the $550 million project.
At the time Amtrak finalized a lease and development agreement for the station in 2021, Amtrak announced that construction would begin in late 2022 and that work would end sometime in 2025. However, a spokesperson of Amtrak says the incorporation of Amtrak’s corporate office expansion, along with “other market factors,” necessitated the schedule change. Enabling work began last year and the works started this month.
The scope includes repairs and infrastructure improvements throughout the historic eight-story steel frame station, which originally opened in 1933. It also includes improvements to passenger-facing areas, such as adding dining and retail space and expand an outdoor square, as well as the modernization. operations facilities and renovation of Amtrak’s corporate offices.
The station’s south concourse was closed for construction this month. It is expected to reopen in the summer of 2025.
Originally built by the Pennsylvania Railroad, Amtrak says Gray 30th Street is the third-busiest station in its system with a ridership of more than 3 million passengers by 2022. The station also serves passengers from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation (SEPTA) and NJ Transit. Amtrak last renovated the station between 1988 and 1991.
The station must continue to operate while the works are carried out. Shawn Carlin, senior vice president and Philadelphia business leader at Gilbane, said in a statement that the contractor worked with its design partner, Skimore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), to develop a phased work plan focused on “ minimize disruptions to ongoing operations.” The contractor also issued bid packages early to handle long-term items needed for infrastructure improvements on the phased schedule, a spokesman says.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the plan required a “Section 106” assessment under the National Historic Preservation Act, the contractor notes.
Plenary Infrastructure Philadelphia is Amtrak’s development partner for the project under a P3 agreement they signed in 2021. PIP is responsible for operating and maintaining the station through 2071.
