SEPTA Receives $317 Million to Buy Up to 200 New Rail Cars

February 21, 2024

Today - Wednesday, February 21, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced $631 million in grants to improve rail transit safety and reliability for passengers through the purchase of new American-made rail cars. This investment - a part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda - will improve transportation systems across the nation while creating good-paying jobs and boosting economic competitiveness.

The grants announced today through FTA’s Rail Vehicle Replacement Program will help transit agencies in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Baltimore replace older vehicles with 300 new railcars - making transit safer, opening new opportunities for people with disabilities, and modernizing their transit systems.

“Millions of Americans use subways, commuter rail, and light rail every day but many railcars are decades old and in need of replacement,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Through President Biden’s infrastructure law - we’re proud to deliver 300 new railcars to give Americans a safer, more comfortable, more reliable service on America’s rails.”

The selected Rail Vehicle Replacement Program projects are:  

• Chicago, IL: The Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transportation Authority (METRA) will receive $100 million to buy 50 modern, multi-level railcars that will feature new passenger safety, accessibility, and rider comfort amenities to replace older railcars that have been in service for more than 40 years.

• Baltimore, MD: The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) will receive approximately $214 million to buy 52 new light rail vehicles to replace older vehicles that have been in service for more than 25 years.

• Philadelphia, PA: The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will receive approximately $317 million to buy up to 200 new rail cars to replace older rail cars 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 Market-Frankford Line is not only the workhorse of the SEPTA system - it is also a lifeline for the tens of thousands of people who rely on it every day," said SEPTA General Manager/CEO Leslie S. Richards. "It moves more people than any other service and is the center of SEPTA’s unified and interconnected transit network. Thank you to the Federal Transit Administration for awarding a Rail Vehicle Replacement Grant -  as well as Senators Casey and Fetterman and the Southeast Congressional delegation - for your ongoing work to secure this tremendous investment - the largest single grant SEPTA has ever received - for our riders and the communities we serve."

“Newer, better railcars will mean a safer, more reliable, more accessible transportation future for the people of these communities,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “These cars also represent hundreds of jobs in American factories, building the next generation of American transit. We are proud to select these projects to improve passenger rail service for riders across the nation.”

One-third of subway and commuter rail vehicles in the United States are more than 25 years old and these older railcars contribute to delays, increased maintenance costs and customer dissatisfaction. Older railcars also lack amenities such as digital signage and audio tools that improve the riding experience and access and may also lack direct access for people with disabilities.

Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda - public transit will improve for riders all while supporting American manufacturing jobs. 

All railcars purchased with federal funding - including through this program - must comply with the Buy America Act. At least 70% of the railcar must be made in the U.S. and final assembly must be done in the U.S.

Today’s investment is the second Rail Vehicle Replacement Program package funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which has now invested approximately $1.3 billion to replace rail vehicles nationwide. 

In May 2023 - FTA allocated approximately $703.1 million to six projects through the program. 

Overall - the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests a total of $1.5 billion in new funding for railcar replacement through FY 2026 to improve safety and reliability.

Projects were selected for funding based on criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. 

In response to the funding opportunity - FTA received nearly $1.97 billion in funding requests.