In a deal to help to boost advertising revenue, SEPTA has renamed Pattison Station on the Broad Street Line “AT&T Station.” The name will take effect later this summer along with new signage and new maps system-wide all paid for as a part of a $5 million five-year deal paid by the wireless company that is the only cell phone company to provide coverage underground.
“SEPTA welcomes the opportunity to work with AT&T on this unique project,” SEPTA General Manager Joseph M. Casey said in a statement. “This is an exciting new step in SEPTA’s ongoing effort to help defray costs to customers and taxpayers by creating new advertising and sponsorship opportunities throughout the transit system.”
Approved by SEPTA’s board June 24, about $2 million will pay for station beautification and new digital displays with the remainder going toward SEPTA’s operating budget, spokesman Andrew Busch said. It has not yet been determined what the operating funds will be used for, but the transit agency does not expect any confusion for passengers in regards to the name change, he said.
“Essentially there isn’t any change with the service and anything now that says Pattison is going to say AT&T Station,” he said. “If somebody is waiting on the platform for a southbound train down to South Philly, they’re still going to hear southbound train, [but] it’ll say AT&T Station. It’s going to be clear from that and the signage where these trains are heading.”
