SEPTA Honors Green Transit Hub in Philadelphia

SEPTA's Wissahickon Transit Center wins sustainability award for green roof, stormwater management

SEPTA Names Wissahickon Center Top Green Project

Philadelphia transit riders using the Wissahickon Transit Center are benefiting from a facility that's just won SEPTA's top sustainability honor. The transit agency announced April 28 that the northwest Philadelphia hub received its annual Earth Day Sustainability Award for advancing environmental goals. The $50 million center, which opened last year at 5000 Ridge Avenue, serves over 5,000 weekday riders.

Context

The 3.3-acre facility transformed a former transit site into what officials call a climate-resilient hub that's more than six times larger than its predecessor. SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer said sustainability is crucial to the agency's mission of connecting people with opportunity, catalyzing the economy, and sustaining the environment. The center's ridership exceeds almost all of SEPTA's outlying Regional Rail stations, officials said. Construction on the project began in spring 2023.

Environmental Features

The facility diverts 1.8 million gallons of stormwater annually through its green roof and raingardens covering over an acre of surface, according to SEPTA. The state-of-the-art stormwater management system represents a significant environmental upgrade for the transit network. Other projects nominated for the sustainability award included the Ballast Car Solar Retrofit, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Bus Pilot, Midvale Green Shield & Fencing Project, and Wyoming Complex Stormwater Retrofit Project. Officials didn't specify the environmental impact metrics for the other nominees.

Accessibility Improvements

The new center is fully ADA-accessible and features significant safety upgrades including improved lighting, signage, and security cameras, officials said. The expanded facility provides riders with enhanced amenities compared to the previous location. SEPTA didn't provide specific details about how many additional accessibility features were added or the exact number of security cameras installed.

Rider Information

Riders using the Wissahickon Transit Center can expect continued service at the award-winning facility with its enhanced environmental and accessibility features. The center serves multiple bus routes connecting northwest Philadelphia to the broader transit network. Moovit provides real-time updates and trip planning for SEPTA routes serving the Wissahickon Transit Center and throughout the Philadelphia region.