SEPTA’s 11th Street Station will close Sept. 5 to add elevators; project could take more than a year

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!

Starting Sept. 5, SEPTA will close 11th Street Station in Center City for more than a year for a major renovation project at the Market-Frankford Line stop.

Trains will skip the stop until Aug. 30, 2027, for the $44 million accessibility project. In addition, the concourse from 13th to 11th streets will close until the project is completed. More than 9,400 riders pass through the station each weekday, according to SEPTA.

SEPTA will add elevator access from the street level to the eastbound and westbound platforms. The two new elevators will make 11th Street Station fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“We are excited to begin this work that will result in a better experience for riders of any ability who use this station,” SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer said in a release. “We have made great strides in recent years to bring SEPTA closer to our commitment to make the system accessible to all.”

Construction estimates for similar projects usually take 35 months. According to SEPTA, keeping the station closed for a year could cut the project duration by at least 10 months and save up to $3 million.

In addition to the elevators, multiple improvements will be made to 11th Street Station, including:

• New lighting
• Communications system upgrades
• New cashier booth
• New floor and wall tiles
• New wayfinding signage
• Structural repairs and waterproofing improvements

Currently, 124 stations across SEPTA’s network are wheelchair-accessible. When construction at 11th Street Station is completed, 27 of the Market Frankford Line’s 28 stations will be fully accessible. All buses in SEPTA’s network are also accessible.

The 11th Street Station project is part of SEPTA’s 12-year Capital Program that includes more than $1 billion for infrastructure upgrades and vehicle replacements, including the system’s trolleys. If everything goes to plan, more than 95% of SEPTA trips will go through accessible stations.