SEPTA's $727M budget proposes Key card, railcar funding

PHILADELPHIA — The Inquirer reports that SEPTA’s proposed $727.23 million capital budget includes money for railcars, buses, bridges, and an expansion of its Key smart card system.

The proposed budget includes $99 million in FY 2018 to install Key readers throughout the Regional Rail system, $51 million toward new locomotives expected in 2018, and $98 million for new buses, which include 25 fully-electric buses in the next fiscal year.

If approved, SEPTA’s capital budget for FY 2018 would be an almost $180 million increase over the previous year. About 48% of the capital budget, $351.7 million, comes from state funding, with an additional $213.5 million coming from federal sources, $150 million coming from SEPTA’s capital financing, and $11.7 million from local sources, The Inquirer reports. For the full story, click here.