HARRISBURG, PA — Governor Josh Shapiro on Monday directed nearly $220 million in emergency capital funding to SEPTA, launching a sweeping effort to stabilize the transit agency as it confronts federal safety orders, railcar shortages, and infrastructure failures.
The $219.9 million allocation comes after a series of federal directives forced SEPTA to repair aging railcars and overhaul its trolley catenary network. Speaking at SEPTA’s Frazer Shop & Yard in Chester County, Shapiro said the added funding was necessary to ensure safe, reliable service for the nearly 800,000 riders who depend on SEPTA every day.
“Nearly 800,000 Pennsylvanians rely on SEPTA every single day — to get to school, to work, to medical appointments, and wherever else they need to go safely and reliably,” Shapiro said. “My administration is stepping up once again to provide SEPTA with the funding it needs to complete critical repairs, meet federal safety requirements, and restore full service — but we need a long-term solution.”
Federal scrutiny intensified this fall after safety incidents involving Silverliner IV Regional Rail cars and failures in the trolley network’s overhead wires. The Federal Railroad Administration issued an emergency order requiring inspections and repairs for 223 Silverliner IV cars. The Federal Transit Administration ordered inspections across the trolley catenary network. SEPTA completed the required inspections ahead of federal deadlines, returning 98 railcars to service, and expects roughly 180 to be operational by mid-December. That would allow full weekday Regional Rail service to resume.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said the new funding will help SEPTA accelerate compliance work but cautioned that without recurring revenue, the agency will remain vulnerable. “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,” Carroll said.
The administration said the capital funds will support upgrades across the system, including improvements to Silverliner IV and V railcars, procurement of additional leased and purchased railcars, overhauls to metro fleet traction motors, replacement of aging catenary wires, new maintenance equipment, escalator upgrades at stations, advanced inspection technology, and improvements at the SEPTA Control Center.
SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer said the funding will help the agency maintain progress on repairs. “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,” Sauer said.
Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz, vice chair of SEPTA’s board, said the new funding is essential to maintaining operations. “These new capital funds are a lifeline that will help us maintain our fleet and infrastructure and plan for our future,” she said, crediting Shapiro for sustained support.
State lawmakers echoed similar concerns. Senator Vincent Hughes said Senate Republicans have repeatedly blocked proposals for long-term transit funding, even as the federal government warns of urgent safety and infrastructure needs. “Now the Republican-led federal government is sounding the alarm about SEPTA’s need for safety and infrastructure improvements, and state Senate Republicans still choose to do nothing,” Hughes said.
Representative Ed Neilson said reliable transit service affects all Pennsylvanians, not only those in urban counties. “This is not about rural vs. urban areas because mass transit impacts all 67 counties in Pennsylvania,” Neilson said, praising the administration’s decision to direct emergency funds.
The administration emphasized that Monday’s action is not a permanent solution. While the new funding will allow SEPTA to complete repairs and comply with federal directives, long-term stability will require legislative action. Shapiro has proposed recurring mass transit funding in back-to-back budgets and joined former governors and civic leaders in urging the Senate to advance a dedicated funding plan.
Pennsylvania will host millions of visitors in 2026 for America 250 events, NCAA March Madness, the FIFA World Cup, and the MLB All-Star Game. Officials say a safe, fully functional SEPTA system will be essential for moving residents and visitors throughout the region.
For now, the $219.9 million provides SEPTA the means to meet immediate safety demands and restore service, even as larger questions about long-term transit funding remain unresolved.
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