GENERAL PLANNING CONSULTING SERVICES SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (SEPTA)
The Challenge
As the fifth-largest transit system in the U.S., SEPTA’s expansive and interconnected multimodal system serves nearly four million passengers in the City of Philadelphia and surrounding region. The authority is currently responsible for 290 active rail stations, maintaining over 335 bridges and 404 miles of track, and is one of only two U.S. transit authorities that operates six transit vehicle types: regional (commuter) rail, interurban “heavy” high speed rail transit, subway/elevated trains, light rail vehicles (trolleys), electric trolley buses, and motor buses.
How We Helped
McCormick Taylor was one of two firms selected for SEPTA’s first on-call General Planning Consulting Services (GPC) contract. Through this on-call general planning consulting services contract, McCormick Taylor is providing SEPTA with thought leadership and technical assistance on a variety of transit projects intended to advance the authority’s Strategic Plan: SEPTA Forward.
Results
Key projects under this contract include: updates to SEPTA’s customer-facing website, internal intranet, e-commerce site, and mobile app; a transit-oriented communities study in King of Prussia, PA; a zero-emissions bus analysis; the development of a transit quality score; a bus platform & trolley station design manual; an analysis of federal funding opportunities for trolley modernization; a wayfinding pilot for low-vision individuals in an Environmental Justice community; help with securing state and local funding to support transit projects; an operations and capacity analysis for trolley modernization; and graphic design and communications support for high-profile reports.
For all projects, McCormick Taylor strives to maintain a strategic partnership with SEPTA to deliver practical, effective, and implementable solutions.