ReStore Philadelphia Corridors Streetscape

The ReStore Philadelphia Corridors Program began in 2008 to help revitalize more than 30 commercial corridors throughout the City, reestablishing their historic significance as neighborhood connectors and places to shop, work, and socialize. This program invested more than $40 million of bond funds by constructing streetscape improvements of varying types. The Program was led by the City’s Department of Commerce with support from the Department of Streets and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) and was carried out through five main strategies:

Focus planning and data analysis on strengthening corridors
Align and leverage community economic development resources
Make corridors more welcoming places to spend time and money
Develop a system to attract and retain businesses on corridors
Support effective corridor management organizations

The City retained JMT to provide program management, construction management, and inspection services. JMT staff worked as an extension of the Streets Department staff, serving as their representative through design and construction phases, facilitating the review and approval of 32 projects, and the construction of 13 projects – all under a highly accelerated schedule in order to meet financial obligations. JMT worked closely with the Chief Transportation Engineer for the City, various Department of Streets staff, other City agencies, utility companies, community groups, and three design consultants to assure that all of the streetscape improvement projects maintained these aggressive schedules with regard to design submissions, design reviews, historical and environmental permits and approvals, community group meetings, and pre-bid and pre-construction conferences.

JMT also provided direct responsibility for construction management and inspection of all projects. JMT’s construction staff managed the resolution of complex technical and administrative challenges in physically constrained project sites with unforeseen conditions to contain project costs within tight budgets. At the same time, our team worked with project contractors, residents, stakeholders, and elected officials to maintain clear communication and adhere to the strict project delivery schedules.

Feedback for the completed projects were extremely positive from owners, stakeholders, community groups, and elected officials. The impact of these improvements on their respective neighborhoods was substantial. The program was awarded the 2011 Honor Award for Special Projects by the American Council of Engineering Companies/Pennsylvania).