Beyond the Fare Gates: Partnership Improves Shared Transit Spaces in Philadelphia

MIKE WILLIAMS
Manager, Corporate Communications
Port Authority Transit Corp.
Lindenwold, NJ

Most riders never think about who owns the stairway they use to reach a train platform. Public transit agencies, however, think about it all the time.

The Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO), a 14.2-mile high-speed rail system connecting Philadelphia and South Jersey through 14 stations, serves more than 5.9 million passengers annually. At several PATCO stations in Philadelphia, the transit agency’s responsibilities generally end at the fare gates. Beyond the fare line, concourses, stairways, and street access points are owned and maintained by the City of Philadelphia. While the division of responsibility is clear, riders experience these areas as part of a single transit journey.

To address these challenges, PATCO and the city have worked more closely together on maintenance and improvement projects in shared station areas.

One recent example involved lighting improvements at PATCO’s 12/13^th & Locust Street Station. After identifying deteriorated lighting conditions in city-owned concourse areas, PATCO purchased new fixtures, ballasts, and bulbs, and PATCO electricians completed the installation work under the agencies’ maintenance agreement, improving brightness and visibility throughout the concourse.

Another project followed at the nearby 15/16^th & Locust Street Station, where a heavily used stairway connecting the concourse to street level required replacement stair treads. City crews removed the worn treads and prepared the surface, while PATCO maintenance personnel installed the replacements. By combining resources and expertise, the agencies completed the work efficiently while minimizing disruption to customers.

These projects are part of a broader effort that has included enhanced cleaning initiatives, lighting upgrades, infrastructure repairs, and ongoing station improvements throughout shared spaces. Just as importantly, the partnership has improved communication between maintenance, operations, and facilities teams, helping identify needs earlier, align priorities, and deliver solutions more quickly.

Transit agencies across the country routinely operate in shared environments involving municipalities, transportation authorities, and other stakeholders. While these arrangements can complicate project delivery, PATCO’s experience demonstrates that meaningful improvements are possible when agencies are willing to work together, share resources, and focus on what riders see every day.

These projects are not always easy to deliver. They require coordination, staff time, funding, and a willingness to work across organizational boundaries. But when agencies work together, the result is a better experience for riders and improved public spaces throughout the transit journey, from the street to the platform.