SEPTA has been awarded $86.8 million in a federal grant to help improve its transit system’s resilience to severe weather conditions.
The funding comes in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Emergency Relief Program. The federal aid is a result of the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, where the authority’s needs were documented by the SEPTA Infrastructure Resilience Program.
SEPTA’s General Manager, Joseph M. Casey said, "SEPTA would like to thank the Southeastern Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation for their work to highlight the critical needs that will be addressed with this funding," said Casey. "This advocacy from our local elected officials was key in gaining the FTA’s support."
Officials announced today, that the money will go towards supporting seven projects to protect SEPTA’S infrastructure against weather-related impacts. The aid will stretch across preventing flooding and restoring power in SEPTA’S railroads, bus routes, and subways.
Casey says, "Through the Emergency Relief Program, the FTA is helping SEPTA take proactive measures to limit damage from severe weather events. This will help keep SEPTA – and the Philadelphia region – moving amid the challenging conditions major storms leave in their wake."
For more information about the FTA’s Emergency Relief Program please visit here.
