March 4, 2024
A new grant will help SEPTA replace 200 Market-Frankford Line railcars, DVRPC Executive Director recently testified in support of transit funding in Harrisburg.
Last week, SEPTA announced that they were awarded a $317 million federal grant by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to support the replacement of 200 Market-Frankford Line railcars. This is the largest federal grant award that SEPTA has ever received, and it will help fund the replacement of the aging Market-Frankford Line car fleet. The award’s impact will be felt throughout the region and by the 175,000+ individuals who depend on the Market-Frankford line each day.
FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez presented the award to Leslie Richards, SEPTA CEO and General Manager, at a press conference on February 21, 2024. Richards was joined by Senator John Fetterman, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, Delaware County Councilmember Dr. Monica Taylor, and Upper Darby Mayor Ed Brown, among others. All of the elected officials who spoke stressed how this big win is the outcome of successful governmental collaboration across jurisdictions and levels of government. This would not have been possible without the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
“Newer, better railcars will mean a safer, more reliable, more accessible transportation future for the people of these communities,” said Fernandez. “These cars also represent hundreds of jobs in American factories, building the next generation of American transit. We are proud to select these projects to improve passenger rail service for riders across the nation.”
Also in February, DVRPC Executive Director Ariella Maron went to Harrisburg, PA, to testify in support of transit funding in front of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee. Maron amplified the concerns, needs, and priorities of DVRPC’s member governments based on prior conversations about potential mechanisms to raise local revenues to go toward priority transportation projects and/or use as a match for federal grants. Maron emphasized the counties’ desire for a flexible and broad set of options, given the differences in each of thecounties’ tax structures, preferences, and transportation needs. Read more about the hearing.