Live! Casino Philadelphia Allocates $2 Million for Traffic Project

Live! Casino Hotel Philadelphia has agreed to allocate $2 million for the construction of a new off-ramp from Interstate 76 (I-76) and 7th Street in the city’s stadium district. This agreement resolves a decade-long dispute between the casino, managed by the Cordish Companies from Baltimore, and state authorities.

Terms of the Agreement

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approved the agreement with Stadium Casino RE, LLC, the parent organization of Live! Philadelphia, during a meeting on July 22. The terms require Live! to participate in funding the highway infrastructure project. The new off-ramp will help improve traffic flow in an area where congestion often occurs during sporting events and large casino gatherings.

Currently, the nearest off-ramp from I-76 is located at S. Broad Street. With the new ramp at 7th Street, departing vehicles from the casino, Citizens Bank Park, and the Xfinity Mobile Arena will be able to access the highway more easily.

Fulfillment of Obligations

Cordish's initial application included a commitment from the casino to cooperate with the Federal Highway Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) for the construction of the 7th Street off-ramp. The terms agreed with the PGCB on November 18, 2014, required the casino to pay all costs associated with the design and construction of the ramp.

In subsequent years, Live! conducted traffic analysis and met with transportation authorities, including the DRPA, which owned the land necessary for the ramp's construction. At a re-licensing hearing in 2019, representatives from Live! stated that the DRPA no longer supported the construction of the westbound off-ramp. Despite this, the PGCB renewed Cordish's license and modified the 2014 terms, requiring Live! to guarantee at least $1 million for the ramp project.

The current agreement doubles the company’s commitment to $2 million, which will be paid out over five years from an existing Community Benefits Program, at $400,000 annually.

Project Details

PennDOT estimates that the cost of constructing the off-ramp to I-76 will be around $15 million. Construction is expected to begin in the coming months and be completed by 2028. The new ramp is anticipated to service approximately 800 vehicles per hour, which would have previously used other westbound ramps.

The DRPA has conveyed the land needed for the project to PennDOT, allowing for the commencement of the off-ramp construction and the improvement of the road infrastructure in the stadium area.