Cleaning House In the SEPTA Concourse

If you’ve ever been down to the SEPTA concourse – a long and winding series of tunnels running underground from the Comcast Building to the Gallery Mall – you know that it’s a confusing (and, let’s be frank, somewhat scary) place to try and navigate. Dank, poorly-lit corridors, ambiguous signage, and a general sense of disrepair all impact visitors’ perception of the concourse, and potentially make them less likely to use a resource that could save them time walking through the crowds  and weather above-ground. Luckily, the blighted concourse will be getting a much-needed facelift.

Confusing signage and poor lighting are two frequent complaints about the SEPTA pedestrian concourse.

SEPTA took over the lease for upkeep and maintenance on the tunnels last July, and the agency says it has been slowly revamping parts of the tunnel system ever since. Better lighting and signage have been top priorities, with the latter being of especial help to confused customers. Before this point there wasn’t a comprehensive color system in place to direct passengers towards trolleys, commuter rails, and regional rails. Signage was often either obsolete or contradictory, leaving passengers wondering where they were and how to get where they were going. Maps posted on the walls lacked “you are here” legends, making them all but useless. SEPTA is trying to change all that.

Already the agency has improved lighting and repainted segments of the tunnels, notably the Dilworth Park concourse. Other improvements potentially coming soon: a color-coded system of lines or footprints painted on the floor to guide passengers towards important exists, such as City Hall. SEPTA says it believes (probably correctly) that more inviting facilities will make people more likely to use their services.