Federal Transit Administration Visits Upper Darby to Present $317M in Grants for New SEPTA Rail Cars
Released: February 23, 2024
Federal Transit Administration Visits Upper Darby to Present $317M in Grants for New SEPTA Rail Cars
The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (FTA) joined SEPTA and local officials, including Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor, at 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby on February 21 to announce $317 million in grant funding. The funding will assist SEPTA in purchasing new railcars, which will improve rail transit safety and reliability for passengers across the region.
The investment, a part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, will improve transportation systems while creating well-paying jobs and boosting economic competitiveness. The grants, provided through FTA’s Rail Vehicle Replacement Program will help transit agencies in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Chicago replace older vehicles with new railcars, making transit safer, creating new opportunities for people with disabilities, and modernizing their transit systems.
SEPTA will receive approximately $317 million to buy up to 200 new railcars to replace older railcars that have been in service for nearly 25 years, operating along the Market Frankford Line, the most heavily used line in SEPTA’s system. The current railcars are at the end of their useful life and no longer provide the frequency or reliability needed to support the most heavily traveled line in the SEPTA system.
This is the largest competitive grant in SEPTA’s history. The County worked to help secure the funding which is vital to ensuring the future of safe and reliable transportation for Delaware County residents.
SEPTA's unified and interconnected transit system would not be possible without the Market¬ Frankford Line connecting its various services to vibrant commercial corridors and communities along its 13 miles. The Market-Frankford Line is anchored by the 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby. In addition to the Market-Frankford Line, the 69th Street Transportation Center provides seamless connections to more than 15 bus routes, two trolley lines, and the Norristown High Speed Line.
Video from the announcement can be found here:
