The design for accessibility improvements to Snyder Station on SEPTA’s Broad Street Line has received Philadelphia Art Commission approval to proceed.

The scope of work includes two new elevators, upgrading communications equipment, installing updated wayfinding signage, modifying the fare gate layout to improve efficiency, and more. KMA is the architect of record as a subconsultant on Pennoni’s team. Construction on the $30.36 million project is anticipated to occur in 2025-2026.

Background

Constructed in 1931, the station had four stairway entrances from street level down to the mezzanine level, with one stair located on each corner of the Broad Street and Snyder Avenue intersection. The two stairs on the northwest and southeast corners are freestanding, and the two on the northeast and southwest corners abut existing buildings. All four stairs have cast iron guard rails that sit on a granite curb at street level.

In 1956 the station was renovated to reconfigure the mezzanine; remove and fill in two stairways; relocate one of the street level to mezzanine stairs; and add two escalators and head houses from street level to mezzanine level, one each on the northeast and southwest corners. Through the years there were additional improvements, including adding a porcelain tile floor at the platform level, fareline fence reconfiguration, repair and cleaning of the decorative ceramic tile, new signage, lighting and electrical upgrades.  

The Current Project

The southwest escalator head house has become a safety and security concern for SEPTA, so it and the escalator will be removed and replaced with a new elevator and head house in the same location. 

A new elevator between the mezzanine and platform level will also be added for ADA access between the mezzanine and platform levels. This new elevator will be located within an existing stair opening to eliminate any street level disruption during construction.  To account for the stair that is being removed to make room for the new elevator, a new stair connecting the platform and mezzanine level will be constructed in the location of one of the previous stairs that was removed.  The new stair location will require reconfiguring back-of-house areas and portions of the fareline fence. 

The northwest and southeast station entrances will be covered with new stair head houses that will also enclose the existing cast iron stair guardrails.  The new elevator and stair head houses will be based on the SEPTA model being used at other stations throughout the transit system. New station signage, conforming to SEPTA's systemwide standards, will be installed on the new head houses and throughout the station.

Additional improvements within the station include a new ticket booth and turnstiles, an accessible bathroom for SEPTA employees, bike parking, new porcelain tile floor finish on the platform level, and waterproofing repairs.