Malvern, Germantown, Wister station work

Three stimulus projects each took a step forward as the SEPTA Board’s operations committee reviewed two contracts for work on the regional rail system.

One of the contracts, for about $9.2 million, is set to go to James J. Anderson Construction Co. for work on Malvern Station, which will involve building new parking and a tunnel for commuters.

The other, for almost $900,000, will go to D.A. Nolt Inc. for rebuilding the Germantown and Wister stations on the R7 Chestnut Hill East line.

Though D.A. Nolt didn’t offer the lowest estimate of the 10 bidders, SEPTA officials said that the two bidders who came in lower had problems with their bids that caused their cost estimates to be wrong.

The committee also took a step toward expanding a recreational trail in Lehigh County, reviewing 30-year leases totaling about 2 miles of the out-of-service Bethlehem Branch to the Borough of Coopersburg and the Borough of Hellertown. With these two additional segments included, the trail will run for 8 miles.

SEPTA retains the right to regain control of the right of way if it wants to restore train service to the line.

The committee also reviewed a $1.3 million three-year contract to supply and store 30 million packs of tokens that is to be awarded to Packaging Services Inc.

The authority’s administration committee also reviewed a three-year $4.5 million technical services contract to Judge Technical Services Inc.

Posted by Anthony Campisi