♪
[train whistle blows]
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[children laughing]
Jannie Blackwell [City of Philadelphia Councilwoman]: In the last ten years,
West Philadelphia has changed dramatically.
Jerry Sweeny [Brandywine Realty Trust]: This is really a great story.
This is a romance story.
Jim Kenny [Mayor of Philadelphia]: Every neighborhood in this city has its own identity,
its own history, its own folklore, its own characters.
Jannie Blackwell: We have our universities expanding,
our hospitals expanding.
Jeff Knueppel [SEPTA]: You've got tower cranes, you've got University City growing.
If you think about it, the future's really already here.
Jim Kenny: The 30th Street District is a phenomenal place.
It's a crossroads for everyone traveling to the city
or outside the city and through the city.
Stephen Gardner [Amtrak]: By integrating both the future of the train station
with the future of the neighborhood,
we could accomplish a, really a transformative
and incredible outcome for the city.
John Fry [Drexel University]: We're taking all this underutilized space
wrapped around the third busiest train station in the country
and make the best innovation district in the United States.
Natalie Shieh [Amtrak]: It's about building the city to the station
from walkable streets to new parks, great access to transit.
Jerry Sweeny: It will wind up being one of the best
economic development stories in the history of this country.
This plan has to start with 30th Street Station.
David Schaff [Philadelphia City Planning Commission]: It's a palace of a building.
It takes your breath away.
30th Street Station District plan is about preparing Amtrak
and SEPTA to meet the future traveling demands of our region.
Byron Comati [SEPTA]: One of the things that we're looking at is how to reopen
an underground passageway that does exist.
Gaelle Beltran-Gremaud [Commuter]: I think that if we had a connection, a better connection,
between the station and the Frankford Line,
that would be so much better for us.
Michael Carroll [Philadelphia Streets Department]: We need better access to buses at 30th Street Station.
This plan will significantly improve the access to
the station for SEPTA buses as well as the inner city buses.
Andrew Stober [University City District]: The Porch at 30th Street Station
was designed to serve as a gateway.
We need to make the space around 30th Street Station
work for people, not just cars.
Gaelle Beltran-Gremaud: We love the porch with a swing.
In French we call them balançoire .
We love just sitting there and enjoying the station as well.
Mark Kocent [University of Philadelphia]: One of the most valuable assets in the plan is improving
both pedestrian as well as mass transit connections,
whether they be with the trolley, with the Market El,
or with the LUCY services.
Betsy Mastaglio [Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission]: The transit guideway shown in the plan provides an opportunity
to connect to this new neighborhood
from the 30th Street Station to get out to Mantua,
to get out to Parkside, to the Zoo.
John Fry: Tie all these streets together, it gives us a connectivity
into Center City that we've never had before.
We're adding a new community
and new connections over the railyard.
Andrew Stober: Imagine a whole new city center that brings together
University City and Center City.
Natalie Shieh: And over the next 35 years it will organically grow northwards
towards Spring Garden Street and the Art Museum.
Sarah Clark Stuart [Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia]: Right across the river from 30th Street Station
is the Schuylkill River Trail and Schuylkill Banks
and it's critical to make a better connection
between that path in 30th Street Station.
Catherine Hawkins [Commuter]: I am one of the lucky people in Philadelphia
in that I commute right along this riverbank walk.
Joe Syrnick [Schuykill Banks]: This trail and these developments that are happening
are opening up the river.
We need to reconnect people to the river.
Lucia Esther [Resident, West Powelton Saunders Park]: We're so thankful that they've allowed
the neighborhoods to have input into the planning process.
De’Wayne Drummond [Resident, Mantua]:You're either at the table or you're on the menu.
Jennie Granger [PennDOT]: We did extensive public outreach
which has been an amazing opportunity.
Jabari Jones [Lancaster Ave, 21st Century Business Association]: I just want more opportunity for jobs in this community.
De’Wayne Drummond: I just want equality.
Jerry Sweeny: There is no reason when we get this thing done down here
that you want to work in New York City or Washington
versus working in Philadelphia.
Jim Kenny: This is for the next generation.
Jannie Blackwell: It has to start now.
We can't wait for 35 years.
Jennie Granger: We have to make this happen!
Jeff Knueppel: We have to make this happen!
We have to make this happen!
Andrew Stober: We have to make this happen!
Jerry Sweeny: We have to make this happen!
John Fry: We have to make this happen!
Jannie Blackwell: When I tell you West is best, I mean it.