SEPTA acts on its 'wish list'
Anticipating a federal economic-stimulus program soon for transportation projects around the nation, SEPTA's board yesterday spent $6.25 million to get ready.
Anticipating a federal economic-stimulus program soon for transportation projects around the nation, SEPTA's board yesterday spent $6.25 million to get ready.
The board approved the money for four engineering firms to finish design work and other preparations for about $175 million in projects that SEPTA wants to start quickly if Congress provides funding.
The projects, part of a $480 million wish list prepared by SEPTA, include reconstructing the Fox Chase train station, upgrading stations along the Chestnut Hill West rail line, improving lighting in the Center City commuter tunnel, renovating restrooms at the 69th Street Terminal, and improving electrical substations and maintenance shops.
SEPTA plans to award contracts for the work within 120 days of congressional approval of a stimulus plan, chief financial officer Richard Burnfield said. He said such "shovel-ready" projects would be much more likely to receive federal funding.
"We will be ready," Burnfield said. He said he expected action in Washington by about mid-February.
SEPTA yesterday awarded $2 million to Gannett Fleming Inc., $2 million to HNTB Corp., $1.5 million to Urban Engineers Inc., and $750,000 to Burns Engineering Inc.
In other business, the board pushed back the completion date of the overdue, over-budget Market Street Elevated reconstruction project by 65 more days, to Sept. 3.
The additional time - and an additional $1.2 million - is for contractor PKF-Mark III Inc. to complete sidewalk and curb work beneath the rebuilt elevated line.
SEPTA is rebuilding the two-mile, 100-year-old elevated line in West Philadelphia at a cost of $710 million, up from $420 million six years ago.
