On August 27, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) gathered with elected officials and other stakeholders to break ground on a project at 11th Street Station that will make the L station fully accessible.

“Ensuring that SEPTA service is accessible to all riders is a core part of our mission, and today’s groundbreaking marks another important milestone in that commitment,” said SEPTA Board Chair Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. “Making our system more accessible is a shared responsibility, and we are grateful for the federal investment through the FTA’s All Stations Accessibility Program, as well as the continued partnership and support of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia.”

Since more than 9,400 L riders pass through 11th Street Station each weekday, a key element of the $44 million project is providing elevator access from the street level to the eastbound and westbound platforms. The two new elevators will make 11th Street Station fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“We are excited to begin this work and deliver a modern, fully accessible station for our customers,” said SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer. “11th Street Station is an important gateway to East Market, and this project is an investment not only in our transit system but in the infrastructure that supports this critical corridor.”

“These improvements will ensure 11th Street Station is fully accessible and enhance the experience for every rider,” said Congressman Brendan F. Boyle. “Projects like this are exactly why I fought so hard to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I’m proud to have helped secure millions in federal funding to deliver these upgrades.”

Station Bypassing Planned for 12 Months

By the time construction at 11th Street Station is completed, 27 of 28 L stations will be fully accessible. Over the next 12 years, SEPTA is investing more than $700 million in making Metro and Regional Rail stations accessible.

“Understanding the importance of public transit, I am pleased to support SEPTA’s work to achieve accessibility for all users of the system, and this project is a good step in that direction,” Philadelphia City Councilmember Mark Squilla said.

“ADA improvements are a lifeline for those with wheelchairs or mobility aids, and they also make the system more usable and dignified for riders with children in strollers, folks with shopping carts, bicyclists and everyone else,” said Ariella Maron, executive director of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). “We applaud SEPTA for finding a way to speed up this project, which in turn means delivering benefits to the community faster and making efficient use of our limited resources.”

In addition to the new elevators, other planned improvements to the station include:

• New lighting
• Communications system upgrades
• New employee bathroom
• New cashier booth
• New floor and wall tiles
• New wayfinding signage
• Structural repairs and waterproofing improvements

SEPTA’s FY27 Budget includes funding to bring full-height fare gates to an additional 13 stations, including 11th Street. At the 10 stations where the new gates are installed, fare evasion has been cut roughly in half, the agency said.

To complete the renovations, 11th Street Station will be closed to the public from September 5, 2026, through August 30, 2027. L trains will bypass the station during this time. The concourse will be closed from 13th St to 11th St for the duration of the project.

Similar projects typically take about 35 months. Bypassing the station for 12 continuous months is expected to reduce the project duration by at least 10 months and save up to $3 million.

Customers who normally board or exit at 11th Street can use 13th Street Station, which is ADA accessible. When 11th Street Station reopens, the remaining construction will cause minimal disruption to riders.