SEPTA Will Delay Massive Overhaul of City Hall Station Until After DNC 2016 Convention
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The decision by the Democratic National Committee to hold its 2016 nominating convention here in Philadelphia is prompting Septa to delay an underground rehabilitation project scheduled for that summer.
Until yesterday's DNC announcement, Septa had planned to begin a $150-million renovation of the corridors under City Hall by the start of summer, 2016.
Now, spokesperson Jerri Williams says, that will be postponed a bit.
"We were going to be renovating the 15th Street station starting in the summer of 2016 and (continuing) throughout the rest of the year. We're going to have to push that back a little bit," she tells KYW Newsradio.
So, the project will instead begin in August, after the Democratic convention ends.
Williams says as with Pope Francis' visit this fall, Septa will try to spruce up those dank corridors before the Democrats arrive.
"Prior to the DNC coming, we are going to do a little resurfacing, do some painting of the walls. We're going to increase the lighting. We're going to do whatever we can –- while we can't completely renovate it –- to upgrade, to refresh the area. That work will be enough to give Philadelphia and Septa a nice presentation to our visitors," she explains. "We are actually going to do that same work this summer in preparation for the visitors coming for the papal visit."
The full project, which is expected to last six months, includes the installation of elevators for the handicapped, which will require actually moving some of the massive beams that support City Hall.
