Mary Gay Scanlon

02/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/16/2024 16:29

Scanlon, Casey, Fetterman, Boyle, Evans, Parker Secure $317.1 Million to Replace 200 Rail Cars on SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Line

Scanlon, Casey, Fetterman, Boyle, Evans, Parker Secure $317.1 Million to Replace 200 Rail Cars on SEPTA's Market-Frankford Line

Market-Frankford line is SEPTA's most heavily-used commuter rail line

Members of Congress helped secure the massive grant through the infrastructure law they championed

With this funding, SEPTA has received more than a billion dollars from the infrastructure law

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Scanlon (PA-05) today joined Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (PA-05), Congressmen Brendan Boyle (PA-02) and Dwight Evans (PA-03), and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker to announce that SEPTA is received $317,160,000 in infrastructure funding to purchase approximately 200 new rail cars on the Market-Frankford Line, SEPTA's most heavily-used commuter rail line.

"SEPTA is vital to our region, providing transportation for thousands of community members every day," said Rep. Scanlon. "This funding for new rail cars will improve the passenger experience and make SEPTA's infrastructure more sustainable. I'm proud to have voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and welcome the positive impact it is having on our communities."

"I fought to pass the infrastructure law because of its promise to bring game-changing investments to Pennsylvania. Time and time again, we have invested in the Commonwealth's most urgent needs and this time is no exception," said Senator Casey. "Thousands of Pennsylvanians depend on the Market-Frankford Line every day to get where they need to go-to work, to school, to spend time with family. With this vital funding, SEPTA can modernize its inventory with American-made rail cars while increasing safety and reliability for all of Southeastern Pennsylvania."

"A few weeks ago, I led a letter to the Department of Transportation on the urgent need to support SEPTA. Today, I am thrilled to join with my colleagues and announce DOT's $317 million investment to support new cars on the Market-Frankford Line," said Senator Fetterman. "I am proud to have advocated for this critical funding and secured a record amount for southeastern Pennsylvania's public transit infrastructure."

"I'm proud to take part in the ongoing collaborative effort and support from Senators Casey and Fetterman and our House delegation to secure major investments like this," said Congressman Evans. "We're working together to make sure that the Infrastructure and Jobs Act continues to deliver for Philadelphia and the region."

"This investment of $317 Million in SEPTA thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act is outstanding news for public transit, for Philadelphia, and for every Philadelphian who uses SEPTA each day to get to work, school or to move across our City ," said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. "A modern, well-run public transit system is vital to our City and region. We're grateful to our entire Congressional delegation - and to the Biden-Harris administration - for this latest Federal investment in Philadelphia."

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Rail Vehicle Replacement Program, created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Pennsylvania delegation in Congress has consistently fought for federal funding for SEPTA to improve accessibility, promote sustainability and reduce emissions, upgrade bus infrastructure, expand trolley capacity, and make service faster and more reliable. To date, PA Members of Congress have secured over a billion dollars in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for SEPTA.

In January, a majority of Southeastern Pennsylvania's congressional delegation sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg urging the Biden Administration to continue investment in SEPTA amid a looming transit fiscal cliff.

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