SEPTA today awarded a consultant contract to HNTB Corporation for the final design phase of the King of Prussia Rail (KOP Rail) Project.
This marks another major milestone for the project, which will extend the existing Norristown High Speed Line (NHSL) four miles into King of Prussia, providing a “one-seat” ride from any station along the NHSL, including 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby and Norristown Transportation Center.
“KOP Rail will connect the three largest employment hubs in the region – Center City, University City, and King of Prussia – increasing access to 60,000 jobs,” said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon Sr. “Frequent and reliable transit service is necessary for our region’s economy to recover and grow.”
The total contract amount for Basic Design and Construction Documentation (Phase A) and Construction Related Services (Phase B) is $124,999,678.
The contract with HNTB will progress the engineering and architectural design from 30% to final design, which is required for the project to be eligible for Federal Transit Administration New Starts Capital Investment Grant funding.
SEPTA’s Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Budget commits $390 million to advance KOP Rail, and the authority will seek a Capital Investment Grant to support up to 60% of the total project cost.
“The future of KOP Rail is contingent on the significant state and local resources that are needed to leverage potential federal investments,” said SEPTA General Manager and CEO Leslie S. Richards. “Adequate state and local funding is critical to advance SEPTA’s capital projects, and investing in transit is an investment in our region and the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
Construction is expected to begin in 2025 if full funding is secured.
KOP Rail is a key component of SEPTA Forward, SEPTA’s Strategic Plan, which focuses on increased connectivity, access, and equity. Together with other SEPTA Forward initiatives, such as Trolley Modernization and Bus Revolution, it promotes and strengthens regional growth and connects people with opportunity.
For more information about KOP Rail, visit kingofprussiarail.com. For more information about SEPTA, visit www.septa.org, follow @SEPTA on Twitter, or download the official SEPTA app.
