Center City Commuter Connection
The Center City Commuter Connection ( German: urban commuter connection) also briefly Commuter Tunnel ( German: commuter tunnel ) is the inner-city regional railway tunnel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was opened in 1984, is 1.7 miles (2.74 km) long, continuous four-track, electrified and has a stop. The tunnel connects the Suburban Station to the SEPTA Main Line, and thus the route networks of the once competing companies Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR ) and the Reading Company (RDG ) with each other. It is used exclusively in the regional railways of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ( SEPTA ).
The tunnel connects directly to the underground, opened in 1930 the PRR Suburban Station at 16th Street. From there it passes under the Filbert Street towards the west. Between the 9th and 8th Street, the route then turns into a 90- degree bend one to the north and you will arrive in height Spring Garden Street back to the surface to einzumünden shortly afterwards in the old route of Reading. The only intermediate stop, the Market East Station, located at the level 12th Street and thus immediately west of the old Reading Terminal.
The first concrete plans to connect the two inner-city bus stations of the PRR and the Reading to each other, dating from 1958. Goal was on the one hand, the existing suburban lines on both sides by tying and thus to make the transport more efficient and attractive. On the other hand, should thus be initiated a project for urban renewal, which provided an appreciation of the inner city 's main shopping area northeast of the town hall. The construction costs should take over the city, the state of Pennsylvania and the affected railway companies.
The project was highly controversial at the beginning. Especially when the federal agency Urban Mass Transportation Administration ( UMTA ), there were serious doubts about the feasibility and usefulness of the tunnel, not least because most electric railcars of that time were no match for the strong gradients of up to 2.8%. Also the part of the railway companies suggested in view of the high cost considerable resistance; Finally, through their bankruptcies 1970 ( PRR) and 1971 (Reading) they fell as donors from all over. But the oil crisis in 1974 and the extension of the remit of the UMTA towards urban renewal brought the phrase. The construction costs were now able to 80% shall be paid from federal funds. The sod was finally on June 22, 1978.
The construction has provided significant challenges. The Filbert Street was too narrow for a four-track tunnel so that a track had to be created some very old high-rise buildings directly under the foundations. This required two metro lines are over and under passes and 400 feet (122 m) tram tunnel of Subway Surface Lines few meters are transferred to south. Construction costs totaled at the end of 330 million U.S. dollars.
The opening took place in 1984 in two stages instead. On July 2, the Market East Station was opened and from then approached from the Suburban Station forth with a shuttle. The control operation was finally taken on November 10; The official ceremony took place two days later, place on November 12.
In 2007, at the Suburban Station and Market East Station, taken together, 36 017 newcomers per day counted.