Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announces the emergency funding to be immediately directed toward SEPTA’s safety issues and repairs. SEPTA photo
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro ordered that $219.9 million from the state’s transportation budget be immediately directed to SEPTA to address urgent safety issues and infrastructure repairs on the transit system’s regional rail lines. The funding is intended to ensure existing fleets are safe and reliable.
The Democratic governor and Republicans in the state senate have been in a months-long budget battle, unable to find a long-term funding solution for mass transit. As a result of the stalemate, SEPTA has been forced into a “robbing Peter to pay Paul” situation where capital budgets have been used for operating costs.
Nearly half of the new funding coming from the Shapiro administration will be used to upgrade electrical systems of the aging Silverliner IV and V railcars, which have experienced multiple electrical fires. SEPTA also will lease 10 railcars from Maryland’s MARC system and purchase 20 from Montreal’s transit system to add capacity. Funding also will be used to replace aging overhead catenary wires, repair escalators, and purchase new inspection and maintenance equipment, among other improvements. More details are available here.
Don Hill, BLET’s General Chairman at SEPTA, who recently operated a train that experienced an electrical fire, welcomed the governor’s actions. “I salute the governor for stepping in here,” Hill said. “This funding was critical for our operational needs and to ensure the trains are safe for riders, but a long-term funding solution is urgently needed for mass transit across the Commonwealth.”
Earlier this month, BLET reached a tentative agreement for locomotive engineers who work at SEPTA. Ballots will be counted on December 11.