SEPTA recognizes that the Market Street Elevated (MSE) Reconstruction Project has the potential of providing employment opportunities for minorities, women and residents within the construction area (West Philadelphia and eastern Delaware County).  As a result, the Authority initiated an aggressive Affirmative Action Program, with the assistance of an Affirmative Action Consultant, to ensure that construction firms working on the Project employ minorities, women and residents of the construction area throughout the duration of the project.  

 

EEO Project Goals

 

The MSE Reconstruction Project must conform to Federal Equal Employment Opportunity work-hour goals mandated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs set at 17.3% for minorities and 6.9% female, per construction trade.  To positively impact the neighborhoods most affected by the MSE Project, SEPTA expanded the work-hour goal for minorities to 26.4% and established a 10% voluntary work-hour goal for residents in the construction area.  The zip codes which comprise the resident construction area include:  19131, 19139, 19142, 19143, 19151, and 19082.

 

EEO Goal Achievement

 

As of June 2007, the cumulative EEO goal achievement, measured in work hours, reached an overall minority utilization of 24.5%; overall female utilization of 1.26%; and overall construction-area resident utilization of 6.96%.  This includes a total of 1,439,533.26 work hours for the six construction packages involving 13 prime contractors and 99 subcontractors.  The six construction packages include the Automated Train Control Buildings, Foundations and Ductbank, Cobbs Creek, Guideway, Stations, Cobbs Creek Intermediate Foundations and Utility, and Cobbs Creek Completion contracts.

 

Employment Opportunities

SEPTA does not hire workers for the MSE construction contracts.  Each construction contractor is responsible for developing and implementing their own outreach and recruitment plans for employment of minorities, women and construction-area residents.  SEPTA and its MSE Affirmative Action Consultant have established ongoing communication with the contractors to ensure compliance with the Project’s hiring goals.

Individuals interested in employment opportunities in the construction trades may obtain information at SEPTA’s Community Information Center located at the new 56th Street Passenger Station (56th & Market Streets) in Philadelphia, PA, (215) 580-6484.      

Individuals interested in training for a career in the construction trades may contact the Diversity Apprenticeship Program (DAP), located at 1302 Race Street, First Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, (215) 640-0711.  DAP is a pre-apprenticeship training program that prepares minorities for entry into the union building and construction trades.    Information about DAP is also available at SEPTA’s Community Information Center located at the new 56th Street Passenger Station (56th & Market Streets) in Philadelphia, PA, (215) 580-6484 and at The Enterprise Center at 4548 Market Street (215) 243-4141.      

 

Technical Assistance

 

In January 2004, SEPTA selected Milligan and Company, LLC (Milligan) as the Affirmative Action Consultant for the MSE Reconstruction Project.   Milligan works closely with SEPTA’s DBE Program Office to achieve the Project’s EEO hiring goals, providing the following services:

• Encourage contractors to seek out and employ minorities, females and residents of the construction area on the project;

• Conduct off-site desk audits and site monitoring to verify and document EEO participation; and

• Prepare monthly and annual reports to document EEO participation on the project.

For more information about EEO opportunities, contact Milligan and Company, LLC at 215-496-9100, ext.120.

For information about the MSE Affirmative Action Program, contact:

 

Lillie Claitt

MSE AAP Project Manager

SEPTA Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization Department

215-580-3710