PennDOT: $219.9MM to Support SEPTA Safety Upgrades, 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,” PennDOT said. The Governor made the announcement at SEPTA’s Frazer Shop & Yard in Chester County.
“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,” according to PennDOT.
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 FRA, which issued an Emergency Order requiring inspections, repairs, and electrical system upgrades for all 223 Silverliner IV railcars, following thermal incidents.
- The FTA, which issued an emergency action letter directing inspections of SEPTA’s entire trolley catenary network.
SEPTA, PennDOT says, 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.
While the FRA oversees Regional Rail safety, PennDOT’s State Safety Oversight Agency (SSOA) enforces safety standards for SEPTA’s metro and trolley systems. Under Governor Shapiro, SSOA’s authority was “strengthened and elevated” to report directly to PennDOT’s Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation. Dedicated managers have been hired—including one specifically focused on SEPTA, and three additional safety and inspection positions are in the process of being hired, with two more safety experts dedicated exclusively to SEPTA.
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, PennDOT says, “will allow SEPTA to comply fully with federal safety orders, accelerate Silverliner IV and trolley repairs, and maintain reliable service for residents and visitors.”
“Thank you to Governor Shapiro for his strong support of SEPTA, our riders, and the communities we serve,” said SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer. “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.”
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