Last November, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law, allowing the Federal Transit Association (FTA) to create the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) to make transit stations more accessible.

As a part of this program, SEPTA has been awarded over $56 million by the FTA to fund improvements to the Broad Street and Market-Frankford Lines to make them more accessible to passengers.

Broad Street stations being improved are Chinatown, Erie, Fairmount, Fairmount (Broad-Ridge Spur) and Snyder, and 11th Street station for the Market-Frankford.

Currently, only 25 of the 28 Market-Frankford stations are accessible, and only 12 of the 25 Broad Street stations are accessible as well, as some stations were constructed at least 50 years before the American Disability Act (ADA) was passed, having been built only with stairs.

“Station accessibility is a core part of SEPTA’s capital program,” said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon Sr. 

“I am proud of the Board’s commitment to investing in projects that make our stations and vehicles easier to use, and I am extremely grateful to our Congressional delegation for working to create this program to support our long-term accessibility goals,” he continued.

SEPTA’s 12-year Capital Program includes commitments to making all stations accessible by 2034, with the passing of ASAP leading to amendments to the program to make more stations accessible and bring them into compliance with the ADA.

Improvements include the installation of elevators, ADA-approved accessibility ramps, curb and sidewalk modifications, creation of accessible paths, and reconfiguration of cashier booths in each station.

“The ASAP grant, for the first time, provides dedicated discretionary funding for legacy systems like SEPTA to invest in station accessibility projects, and we are excited to be able to make these improvements for our customers and the communities we serve,” said SEPTA General Manager and CEO Leslie S. Richards. 

“SEPTA stations are gateways to opportunity but only if they are accessible. Thanks to ASAP grant funding, we are closer to reaching our goal of ensuring that all customers can access and benefit from SEPTA service,” she continued.