Philadelphia – Study Contract Awarded for Waterfront Line

Rail Transit Online, March 2010

On Mar. 17 the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) awarded Parsons Brinckerhoff a $6.5-million no-bid contract for environmental studies and preliminary design on the proposed Delaware River waterfront light rail line. The company, which previously conducted a route analysis for the project, expects the current studies to be completed in about two years.

The $500-million line would link Pier 70 and Girard Avenue along the median of Columbus Boulevard and would be connected to Center City by streetcars or LRT on Market Street. Still to be decided is whether DRPA or SEPTA would operate the system. Officials hope to have both schemes completed by 2016 if federal funding can be obtained.

In other business, the DRPA board awarded a $1.6-million contract to Railroad Construction Co. to repair switches, signals, and other equipment in the PATCO Hi-Speed Line's Lindenwold yard.