SEPTA Sells Corporate Naming Rights At Market East Station

By Steve Tawa

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- SEPTA riders will soon be hearing about a new stop when pulling into Market East Station in Center City. The transit agency has scheduled a news briefing for Thursday to rename the station.

Much like the last stop on the Broad Street line at Pattison Avenue became AT&T station, corporate sponsorship will bring about a name change at the Authority's Market East Station.

Councilman Mark Squilla expects it to be called Jefferson Station, a nod to the nearby Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital.:

'It would be a great naming right opportunity for them," Squilla said.

SEPTA is trying to put the brakes on speculation about the renaming. But its release about the announcement mentions it will "reveal a major change for Market East Station," which is situated near the "nationally-recognized Jefferson Hospital."

A tipster sent the website, Technical.ly Philly a photo of a printed-up SEPTA transit map showing Jefferson Station in place of Market East.

Squilla expects Jefferson to partner with SEPTA in putting up money to maintain the Market East concourse.

The AT&T Station naming rights signed in 2010 was a 5-year, $5-million deal.

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