PHILADELPHIA-The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority today reached a milestone in the $710-million modernization of its century-old Market Street Elevated line in West Philadelphia. The 46th St. station is the fourth of six redesigned stations opened by MSE's ongoing $1.5-billion revitalization program for Septa's Market-Frankford rapid transit line.

A Septa spokesman tells GlobeSt.com that the project has progressed in segments, with each station along the two-mile line closed in turn to allow for reconstruction. The 46th Street Station, which reopened today, was closed last June.

"Millbourne Station is currently under construction and a brand new station is targeted to open in mid-June," the spokesperson says. "Also, in mid-June the last of the six stations to be designed as part of the MSE reconstruction project, 63rd Street Station, will close to allow for renovations."

Along with improving rider access along the city's busiest transit line and providing a new streamlined structure to support the El, the hope is that the project will "dramatically change the look of West Philadelphia and be a catalyst that revitalizes the community," Fairfax says. "This project will improve the flow of traffic in West Philadelphia largely due to the elimination of one half of the support columns that currently separate traffic lanes on Market Street."

Station architects also incorporated security features identified as important to the community, according to a prepared statement from Septa. These include: construction of curved and reflective walls that eliminate blind corners; brightly lit interior and exterior station areas; and a pedestrian underpass, to allow safe travel above Market Street between eastbound and westbound platforms. The MSE line originally opened in 1907.

In related news, last week Septa opened a 520-space, four-story parking garage at its Norristown Transportation Center in Montgomery County.