Background/Analysis/Issues: 

SEPTA has requested that DVRPC amend the FFY2025 TIP for Pennsylvania by adding an FTA Low- or No-Emission Vehicle (Low-No) competitive grant award to the  Bus Purchase Program (MPMS #90512) by increasing the FFY26 Purchase of  Equipment phase (PUR) by $43 M SECT 5339C. These are additional funds to the  region as the project was awarded a FFY25 FTA Low-No grant. 

This project will replace 35 diesel 30-foot buses that SEPTA purchased in 2016-17 with diesel-electric hybrid buses. These vehicles have reached or are  reaching the end of their useful life of 12 years. The buses procured with Low-No grant  funding will produce lower tailpipe emissions, providing significant air quality and  community health benefits. They will also improve SEPTA’s fuel economy while  reducing maintenance costs. 

SEPTA proposes to partner with El Dorado National-California (ENC) for the  procurement of 35 diesel-electric hybrid 30-foot buses, which will go into service on  SEPTA Contract Operations routes that serve customers traveling between SEPTA  Regional Rail stations and some of the region’s most prominent employment centers.  

These routes include the following: 

• LUCY (Loop through University City) – Operating from 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, LUCY serves all 13 SEPTA Regional Rail Lines, and the major  “Eds and Meds” employers and healthcare centers in University City,  Philadelphia. 

• Routes 310 and 311 (Horsham Breeze Red and Blue) – These routes operate between Willow Grove Mall and the business parks in Horsham, including service  to Willow Grove Station on the Warminster Regional Rail Line. 

• Route 204 – Route 204 operates between the Paoli Station on SEPTA’s Paoli/Thorndale Regional Rail Line and business parks in Chester County’s  Great Valley region.

• Route 312 (Cornwells Heights Shuttle) – This shuttle provides service between  Cornwells Heights Station on SEPTA’s Trenton Regional Rail Line and  PennDOT’s Cornwells Heights park-and-ride lot. 

Financial Constraint: 

Financial constraint will be maintained as these are additional funds to the region. Conformity Finding: 

The TIP's current conformity finding will not be impacted by this amendment as this  project is exempt from air quality analysis. 

Cost and Source of Funds: 

$43 M SECT 5339C 

The DVRPC Board approves TIP Action PA25-077, SEPTA’s request that DVRPC  amend the FFY2025 TIP for Pennsylvania by adding an FTA Low- or No-Emission  Vehicle (Low-No) competitive grant award to the Bus Purchase Program (MPMS  #90512) by increasing the FFY26 Purchase of Equipment phase (PUR) by $43 M SECT  5339C.