SEPTA Explores Transit-Oriented Development At Bristol Train Station

Officials from SEPTA on Monday presented preliminary concepts to Bristol Borough Council as they look to transform the underutilized parking area into a mixed-use development while improving station accessibility.

Jennifer Dougherty, SEPTA’s manager of long-range planning, and Ken Starr, manager of joint real estate development, along with representatives from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), outlined the Transit Oriented Communities Program.

“SEPTA feels very fortunate that we not only inherited what the Pennsylvania Railroad built and what the Reading Railroad built, but we have inherited the settlement patterns that grew up around these train stations,” Dougherty explained. “We have this exceptional history of rich neighborhoods, walkable downtowns, main streets and lots of other places.”

The Bristol Train Station project is part of SEPTA’s broader initiative to enhance existing community character and walkability around transit stations. The station is already planned to be reconstructed.

Bristol Borough was selected as one of 17 stations with high transit-oriented development potential after DVRPC reviewed hundreds of stations.

SEPTA’s Bristol Station with the Grundy Clock in background as the snow falls. Credit: LevittownNow.com

“When we talk to other transit agencies across the country that have transit oriented communities or transit oriented development programs, they’re so jealous of us because they’re having to start from scratch on really auto-centric and auto-oriented places,” Dougherty said. “They don’t have places like Bristol where you already have this really walkable community that can support transit already.”

Andrew Svekla, who works with DVRPC, presented conceptual plans for the station area, which focused on the 1.8-acre surface parking lot that currently contains about 300 spaces but typically only uses around 40 spots.

“We’re talking roughly 300 spots. One of the last times we were out there we were counting cars, you know, roughly 40 cars or so. So, you know, a fair amount of excess space to think about,” Svekla noted, adding its use is among the lowest of SEPTA Regional Rail stations.

The timing of the potential development aligns with SEPTA’s planned improvements to make the station ADA accessible, including new high-level platforms, ramps, and stairways.

A rendering of the upgraded station. Credit: SEPTA

Two preliminary concepts were presented to council.

The first concept involves developing a portion of the current parking lot while maintaining adequate parking for commuters and shuttle services.

The second concept expands to include the 100 Prospect Street property, sometimes referred to as the Beaver Street property, which could improve station visibility and circulation.

The development could include mixed-use real estate or multifamily housing with shared parking for residents and commuters.

“Right now, it’s sort of a little bit tucked away, not as visible to folks. And some folks might not even realize what a resource you have right here in your community,” Svekla said.

SEPTA officials emphasize they are not looking to sell the property, which is owned by Amtrak and leased by SEPTA, but rather to establish a long-term land lease with a development partner.

“We’re not looking to sell the property, we’re not looking for a one-time infusion of money,” Dougherty said. “We’re really looking for a development partner that kind of furthers the goals for SEPTA, but also the goals of the community that we’re working with.”

Council members expressed concerns about the density of any potential development near the station.

Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe notes that the borough had previously approached SEPTA about acquiring the property for a firehouse.

“We said to you prior to today that we would definitely want. We don’t want apartments, we’re looking at density,” DiGuiseppe said. “Our major thing, and I like to get this on the record, we wanted this to be a firehouse and SEPTA told us numerous times they’re not selling the property.”

Dougherty confirmed that selling the property is not an option.

“It’s technically not our property to sell anyway. It belongs to Amtrak,” she said.

DiGuiseppe said any residential development will have to be considered once a plan is fleshed out.

Councilmember Greg Pezza asked about the management structure of any potential development.

“How will it be managed when it’s done? Are there HOA fees? How does that work?” he asked.

SEPTA officials said that they would not be building or managing the development themselves, but they would solicit proposals from development partners who would build and manage the property.

“We will have parameters related to the relationship with that developer and whomever is responsible for managing the property,” Starr explained. “It’s within our best interest to identify the best possible development partners who have a track record of success.”

The presentation represented the very beginning of the process, with SEPTA seeking feedback from the borough before potentially moving forward with a request for information from developers.

SEPTA’s Transit Oriented Communities Program looks to create “people-first communities,” increase mobility through seamless transit and walking options, and create economic opportunity by allowing more people to live and work near transit.

Starr said the goal is to increase ridership, find new opportunities for underused property, bring new revenue for SEPTA, and create projects that are complimentary to the municipalities where stations sit.

“Our objective is not to squeeze out as much money from the property as possible. Our objective is to create a community that is complementary to transit,” Dougherty told council. “We’re coming to you as a partner saying, do you think that looking at redevelopment of this property is appropriate or not? If you say no, we don’t have to move forward.”

The Transit Oriented Communities Program is looking at several SEPTA-controlled properties around stations in the Philadelphia region.

“We are actively working in Bucks County,” Dougherty said at a seminar hosted by TMA Bucks earlier this year.

In addition to Bristol Borough, SEPTA officials are looking at possible development options around the Langhorne Regional Rail Station and the Warminster Regional Rail Station.

The most advanced Transit Oriented Communities Program project is at Ambler Regional Rail Station in Montgomery County.

SEPTA is working with the borough to redevelop the station’s five-acre parking lot near the center of the borough.

After extensive community engagement, SEPTA received board approval to issue a request for proposals seeking a development partner.

“The Ambler Borough staff and elected officials were very interested in seeing their parking lot, which is about five acres, be redeveloped,” Starr said. “Prior to the pandemic, that lot wasn’t even fully utilized. But certainly during and after the pandemic, the utilization has gone way down.”

Bristol Borough officials took no formal action after the presentation.

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