On Monday Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro directed Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll to allocate $219.9 million in additional capital funding to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to support urgent safety upgrades and infrastructure improvements. Following recent orders from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Shapiro Administration’s action will ensure SEPTA can comply with federal orders, accelerate needed repairs, and maintain safe, reliable service for the nearly 800,000 Pennsylvanians who rely on SEPTA every day.
The Governor’s action comes after Senate Republicans refused to support long-term, recurring funding for mass transit in the 2025–26 budget. As a result, SEPTA has lacked the capital resources necessary to make urgent safety improvements following federal directives.
The $219.9 million in additional PennDOT capital funding will allow SEPTA to accelerate critical safety upgrades, comply with FRA and FTA orders, and maintain reliable service for riders throughout the region. Key investments include:
Upgrades to the Regional Rail Fleet — $95 million
- Enhancements to Silverliner IV safety and electrical systems
- Upgrades to Silverliner V propulsion, electrical systems, and reliability
Railcar Leasing & Procurement — $17 million
- Lease 10 railcars from MARC (Washington–Baltimore region)
- Pursue purchase of 20 railcars from Montréal’s Exo system
Metro Fleet Upgrades — $8 million
- Overhauls of metro fleet traction motors
- Door operator upgrades to ensure safe, reliable service
Utility Fleet & Power Infrastructure Upgrades — $48.4 million
- Replacement of aging overhead catenary wires across SEPTA’s trolley and rail networks
- Purchase of new equipment to allow for more efficient inspections and maintenance of trolley infrastructure
Other Safety-Critical Infrastructure Investments — $51.5 million
- Upgrade of 13 escalators at SEPTA stations
- Purchase advanced inspection technology
- Implement safety improvements at SEPTA’s Control Center to ensure continuity of operations
These investments will allow SEPTA to comply fully with federal safety orders, accelerate Silverliner IV and trolley repairs, and maintain reliable service for residents and visitors.
-via Press Release
