WISSAHICKON TRANSIT CENTER IMPROVEMENTS
PHILADELPHIA, PA
McCormick Taylor worked with SEPTA to help transform a key hub in Philadelphia’s transit network. Through collaboration with stakeholders, the 3-acre site was reconfigured and expanded to alleviate congestion and improve safety and access for buses, pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles.
THE CHALLENGE
The existing Wissahickon Transit Center (WTC) was significantly over capacity, handling approximately 3,500 unlinked daily passenger trips and 7,000 combined boardings and alightings. Positioned along a heavily congested arterial and adjacent to several major pedestrian and bicycle trail networks, the facility was challenged to manage high volumes of buses, vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians in a constrained environment. The project area included narrow right-of-way, the existing Wissahickon Creek, steep roadway and site grades, a rock formation, and underground utilities. These challenges, combined with the need to maintain traffic flow along Main Street and Ridge Avenue, required careful coordination among SEPTA, the City of Philadelphia Streets Department, the Philadelphia County Planning Commission, PennDOT District 6, and other project stakeholders. The goal of the redesign was to balance increased multimodal activity, operational efficiency, and safe connectivity for all users.
HOW WE HELPED
McCormick Taylor led the preliminary and final design of roadway and site improvements for the new WTC. Our team developed more than a dozen conceptual layouts for roadway adjustments along Ridge Avenue and Main Street, as well as new driveway configurations for the site. These concepts were evaluated through a detailed benefits matrix, which allowed all stakeholders to compare alternatives side-by-side and collectively determine the design elements most critical to project success.
Additional responsibilities include traffic signal design, SEPTA bus circulation planning, improvements to progression along Ridge Avenue, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, roadway widening, site grading, and roadway lighting. McCormick Taylor also conducted safety observations and recommendations, prepared the PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit application, prepared the City of Philadelphia Building Permit, and advanced preliminary and final design plans for construction.
Sowinski Sullivan Architects supported the conceptual development of the facility itself. Their work included the layout of the bus loop and center island, which houses a supervisor office, break room, and restrooms. Additionally, a second island located on Ridge Avenue features a commercial space, public restrooms, storage and maintenance areas, and an evening-hours passenger waiting area. The architectural design incorporates sustainable elements such as a green-roof canopy and a bio-retention basin integrated into the center island with raised pedestrian paths.
Arora Engineers supported the electrical and communications design of the facility. This included full electric support, dynamic wayfinding signage, and security and communications throughout.
RESULTS
Through extensive collaboration and strategic planning, the redesigned WTC delivers major improvements in operations, safety, and accessibility. The new facility accommodates increased multimodal traffic while preserving efficient movement along Main Street and Ridge Avenue, enhances pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to regional trail networks, and provides modern passenger amenities supported by sustainable design features. These improvements provide a safer, more reliable, and more comfortable experience for thousands of daily riders.
