Two 1920s-era subway stations on Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) Broad Street Line have been modernized under a $30 million project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

This project was one of 32 SEPTA embarked on with $191 million in ARRA funding. The Spring Garden-Girard station was SEPTA's largest stimulus initiative. SEPTA has completed all of its ARRA-funded projects.

The project provided the first major overhaul for the Girard and Spring Garden stations, which were originally built more than 90 years ago. The stations have remained key Broad Street Line stops through the years, and currently serve nearly 10,000 riders a day.

Prior to the project, both stations were showing significant signs of deterioration due to use and age. Now, riders are enjoying a full slate of modern amenities, such as new stairs, turnstiles, floor tiles and enhanced, energy-efficient lighting. With the installation of elevators and other enhancements, both stations are now fully accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Construction work was complimented by a variety of finishing touches, such as original artwork as part of the Art in Transit program. All of these new additions have been paired with restored and salvaged materials, such as subway wall tiles, to preserve the history of both stations.

The project provided a local economic boost, meeting the goals of the ARRA program. The agency contracted with 32 private companies — among them, seven firms from the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. A total of 507 jobs were supported or created through the project. SEPTA also worked closely with nearby businesses to minimize disruptions during construction.

Long-term benefits are also expected, with development in nearby communities aided by the addition of state-of-the-art transit hubs. These local successes are being recognized nationally, as the Spring Garden-Girard project was named one of the Top 100 ARRA projects.