Morning Headlines: 40th Street Trolley Station Redesign Plan Gets More Funding

Rendering of the planned renovation.
Photo credit: University City District website.

According to the Daily Pennsylvanian’s Sophia White, the University City District, which has been fundraising for the 40th Street trolley station redesign project since 2012, has “raised $1.4 million of its $2 million goal.” Added to this sum is a recent $6,500 award to the project, courtesy of PECO and Natural Lands Trust.

White reports that Lori Brennan, UCD’s spokesperson, sees the renovation as ideal given its location as a “crossroads of economy-shaping institutions and job-creating commercial corridors” and “key access point that allows residents of the region to efficiently commute to Philadelphia’s central business district.” UCD hopes to see the station’s potential through. From DP:

UCD wants the space to better reflect the dynamic neighborhood that the station introduces. Traveling from Center City into West Philadelphia, SEPTA trolley riders currently emerge from a dark tunnel to face a bleak acre of underused space. But after the renovations, this unattractive first impression will become a “vibrant and social space, featuring trees, movable tables and chairs, native horticulture, artful lighting and boulders for creative play,” Brennan said.

In addition to the envisioned green spaces, a cafe and various public amenities are planned for the site:

Beyond drawing more SEPTA users, the plaza will also attract people since UCD hopes to add a local cafe and encourage social activities in the area. In the long-term plan, the site will introduce bike parking and eventually be “activated by a variety of arts and cultural programming, ranging from musical performances to temporary art installations,” Brennan said.

UCD stepped up to the plate as project leader after the William Penn Foundation donated a planning grant two years ago. The gift helped launch the station’s redevelopment, which, aside from UCD, has “SEPTA, city agencies and landscape architects at Andropogon Associates” behind it.

• 40th St. Trolley Station on the way to becoming a community plaza [Daily Pennsylvanian]

In other news…

• Conshohocken borrows $10.8M for new borough hall [Times Herald]

• Obama administration gives city $2.5M to study rebuilding Roosevelt Blvd. [Inquirer]

• $24 million plan to boost Horsham aircraft museum [Courier Times]

• Trial lawyer Kline gives $50M to Drexel law school [Inquirer]

• Zoning relief granted in Lower Merion for St. Charles Borromeo Seminary consolidation [Main Line Times]