![30th Street 04 North Arcade[1]](https://media.bizj.us/view/img/12644000/30th-street-04northarcade1*120xx4800-3600-600-0.jpg)
Listen to this article 3 min
Amtrak and Plenary Infrastructure Philadelphia have extended the timeline and upped the expected cost for their planned overhaul of William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, which includes new retail, lounge and public spaces.
The cost of the renovations to the nearly century-old train station was previously expected to be between $300 and $400 million. That price tag has now ballooned 37.5% from the top-end projections to $550 million.
Amtrak spokeswoman Beth Toll told the Business Journal in an emailed statement that the cost increase is largely due to an expansion of Amtrak's corporate office renovations at the train station and other market factors. The company had previously expected to use only half of the five upper floors of the station for its offices but has since decided to use the entirety of the available space.
Washington, D.C.-headquartered Amtrak has also pushed back the expected timeline of the renovation project. Originally the renovations were projected to be completed in 2025, but the transportation company now expects the last phases of the work to finish in October 2027, according to documents provided by Amtrak.
With an extended time horizon, some of the work will not be completed ahead of 2026, when Philadelphia is expected to see an influx of visitors for events such as the MLB All-Star Game, celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the nation, and matches for the FIFA World Cup.
In its update Thursday, Amtrak also shared new renderings of the project, which included the forthcoming renovations of Amtrak's corporate office space, new outdoor and indoor seating, updated ticket and baggage claim areas, and additional spaces for retailers such as bookstores, luggage sellers and dining concepts.
In 2020, Amtrak selected international firm Plenary Infrastructure to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the station for the next 50 years in a public-private partnership between the two entities. The project kicked off in the fall of 2021 with the start of a design phase that would help the entities figure out how to preserve the historic aspects of 30th Street Station.
Toll said some work on the renovation has commenced but that the overall project was slightly delayed because of the expansion of the corporate office space that Amtrak plans to use.
"Work has been underway in preparation for the major construction phases, including temporary on-site and off-site operational facilities and some state of good repair improvements," Toll said.
The project is being completed in different phases over the next four years to maintain the station's current level of operations. In August, work began on "state of good repair" projects at the station. That work is expected to be ongoing through October 2027.
This month, Plenary Infrastructure Philadelphia and Amtrak began work on the transit company's corporate office renovation for its 1,300 employees that work there. That work, which is the first major update to the company's Philadelphia corporate offices in more than 30 years, is slated to finish up in July 2027.
In January, the team expects to begin work on the renovation of the retail spaces in the south portion of the station. During that time, the retail area will be closed and the existing retailers — including Jersey Mike's, Au Bon Pain and Philly Pretzel Factory — will operate out of kiosks in the main concourse.
Updates to the retail space include creating more seating for visitors and adding more local and national retail concepts. Following the renovations, Toll said there will be room for a total of around 20 concepts. All existing retail partners will be invited to stay at the station.
Amtrak also plans to offer a Small Business Incubator Program that will provide designated retail space at 30th Street Station for small and emerging businesses to test their concepts for a limited time.
Construction on the south retail space is expected to wrap up in March 2025, but phased openings for new concessions may run through 2027. No new potential food and beverage providers have been disclosed.
"We’re in early stages of procurement and look forward to sharing the line-up next year," Toll said.
In April 2025, Amtrak expects to start work on station operations, which involves improving the passenger experience with updated customer-facing amenities like a better baggage claim process, a renovated Metropolitan Lounge and new wayfinding and signage. That work is scheduled to conclude in October 2027.
Construction on the Market Street Plaza outside of the south end of the train station is slated to begin in September 2025 and conclude a year later. That work will create a pedestrian-friendly outdoor space meant to connect the train station with the surrounding neighborhood. The plaza will feature planted and hardscaped areas that provide space for community events like farmers' markets.
Amtrak and Plenary Infrastructure Philadelphia plan to preserve some of the historic aspects of 30th Street Station, which was built between 1929 and 1933, including its finishes, storefronts, bronze doors, lighting and wooden benches.
The overhaul of the train station is one of the first phases of the 30th Street Station District Plan. Created in 2016, it outlines the potential for development in the area, including 18 million square feet of private projects, new parks and public spaces, new roads and bridges and an underground tunnel connecting William H. Gray III 30th Street Station to SEPTA's 30th Street Station subway line. If enacted in its entirety, the plan has the potential to create $3.8 billion in city and state fiscal benefits and 40,000 new jobs, but would require billions of dollars in public and private investment to come to fruition.
