What is happening in Ardmore? Many students have asked that question recently, as we notice the massive crane giving Ardmore and Suburban Square a new temporary skyline. As it turns out, SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transport Authority) is building a new, fully accessible transit center in the space where Ardmore’s former station stood.
SEPTA first announced that they would start construction on their new station in 2019, with construction taking just two-and-a-half years to complete. As there are already many bus connections to Suburban Square and the broader Ardmore region, it is reasonable for SEPTA to improve the train connection for local and inter-city purposes. As we can see, they have not yet accomplished their scheduled goal. This follows along with SEPTA’s notorious slowness in servicing their infrastructure caused by lack of funding and other factors.
Why is SEPTA upgrading the station, anyway? Ardmore is one of Philadelphia’s many historic areas. Trains have been passing through Ardmore since the year 1870 under the Pennsylvania Railroad. As the Pennsylvania Railroad was absorbed into Conrail and eventually Amtrak over the course of a century, trains kept coming through Ardmore from 30th Street Station and out to Pittsburgh, Chicago, and some all the way to Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles. Because of this, Ardmore has grown rich in transit history, along one of the most important stretches of Pennsylvania rail.
The first station opened in Ardmore in 1870, constructed out of gneiss stone with sandstone lintels. It was two stories tall, featuring a bedroom, kitchen, telegraph office, and more. It was then rebuilt in 1957 to the one-story building many have known it as since. However, that is soon changing.
SEPTA has commissioned Neshaminy Constructors Inc. to build a better station, featuring shelters, canopies, and level boarding, a far departure from what previously stood on Station Road.
SEPTA has commissioned Neshaminy Constructors Inc. to build a better station, featuring shelters, canopies, and level boarding, a far departure from what previously stood on Station Road.
This change will hopefully attract more riders to Ardmore Station and will be beneficial to Montgomery County’s TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) initiative. Alongside the new station, a multi-leveled parking garage will be built over a currently empty lot. There has also been a proposal for a Transit-Overly-Zone in the adjacent area, allowing for fewer parking spaces and more housing, thus encouraging higher ridership. As Ardmore currently has over 850 SEPTA riders per day, and many Haverford students pass through and use it regularly, it is certainly due for an upgrade.
