Background/Analysis/Issues

On April 28, the Build America Bureau of the USDOT awarded DVRPC $1.15 million through the Regional Infrastructure Accelerators (RIA) program, which helps regions accelerate the delivery of transportation infrastructure through innovative approaches to planning, financing, and partnerships. DVRPC’s Greater Philadelphia RIA – Lower South will focus on the Lower South area of Philadelphia and Delaware County, supporting efforts to address transportation and resilience needs associated with both planned future development and existing flooding challenges. The Greater Philadelphia - Lower South RIA will also set the foundation on which to continue providing these services regionwide following this pilot.

The Lower South area is a significant economic engine, logistics center, employment hub, and destination for the City of Philadelphia and for the region as a whole. Expansion and/or redevelopment plans are underway in nearly every corner of the Lower South area including at the Philadelphia International Airport, the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the Port of Philadelphia, the Bellwether District, and the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. To help coordinate these planning efforts and the area’s multimodal transportation and resilience needs, the City of Philadelphia has been convening the Lower South Infrastructure Resilience Collaborative (LSIRC) since 2021.

While there is a demonstrated need for increased investment in Lower South infrastructure, the Greater Philadelphia region lacks access to the capital necessary to implement these projects and has limited experience with innovative infrastructure financing methods and project delivery. The Greater Philadelphia RIA – Lower South initiative will be led by DVRPC with input and support from the LSIRC, transportation asset owners, and advisors and will fund a consultant team to develop and advance one or more pipeline projects with Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA), Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF), and/or other innovative project financing and/or delivery methods. DVRPC will intentionally and formally engage with the owners of transportation assets for the identified pipeline of projects, including the City of Philadelphia, PennDOT, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), SEPTA, and the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort). 

As a final phase of the project, DVRPC and the consultant team, with input from the LSIRC transportation asset owners, will assess the benefits and lessons learned from the RIA and develop a business plan for how to improve and sustain RIA operations after the grant period and scale its services beyond the Lower South area.

The RTC recommends the DVRPC Board amend the FY 2027 UPWP to add project 27-34-300 Greater Philadelphia RIA – Lower South.