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 safety upgrades and infrastructure improvements. Following recent orders from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), SEPTA must comply with federal orders, accelerate needed repairs, and maintain safe, reliable service for the nearly 800,000 Pennsylvanians who rely on SEPTA every day.
“Nearly 800,000 Pennsylvanians rely on SEPTA every single day — to get to school, to work, to medical appointments, and wherever else they need to go safely and reliably,” said Governor Shapiro. “Mass transit is absolutely critical to our Commonwealth’s economy, our communities, and the everyday lives of Pennsylvanians.”
This fall, SEPTA was subject to a series of emergency federal directives following safety incidents involving Silverliner IV Regional Rail trains and the trolley network’s overhead catenary system, including from the following agencies:
- The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), which issued an Emergency Order requiring inspections, repairs, and electrical system upgrades for all 223 Silverliner IV railcars, following thermal incidents; and
- The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which issued an emergency action letter directing inspections of SEPTA’s entire trolley catenary network.
SEPTA completed all required inspections ahead of federal deadlines, returning 98 railcars to service. At the current pace, approximately 180 railcars are expected to be operational by mid-to-late December — enough to restore full weekday Regional Rail service.
PennDOT inspectors worked closely with SEPTA to address trolley catenary issues this fall and are now actively monitoring and approving repairs, which the additional capital funding will allow SEPTA to accelerate.
“PennDOT is using every tool available to support transit systems across the Commonwealth,” said Secretary Carroll. “These resources will help SEPTA complete essential repairs, modernize aging infrastructure, and keep riders safe. But this is a temporary fix — we need sustained, predictable mass transit funding.”
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.
“These funds are going to make a significant difference in our efforts to overcome this current crisis — and to prevent problems moving forward. With these new capital dollars, we can advance initiatives that will improve service across the system. This money will be directed to projects that can begin quickly and will enhance safety and reliability for our riders. Thanks to the dedication of our employees, who have been working around the clock, we’re already returning up to five railcars to service each day. We expect to be close to full strength by mid-December, and these new funds will help keep us on the right trajectory as we bolster our preventative maintenance and vehicle overhaul efforts,” said Scott Sauer, General Manager, SEPTA.
