This week, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro directed Mike Carroll, the state’s transportation secretary, to allocate $219.9 million in additional capital funding to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to support urgent safety upgrades and infrastructure improvements.

Following recent orders from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), this action will ensure SEPTA can comply with federal orders, accelerate needed repairs, and “maintain safe, reliable service for the nearly 800,000 Pennsylvanians.”

Shapiro made the announcement at SEPTA’s Frazer Shop & Yard in Chester County.

“Mass transit is absolutely critical to our Commonwealth’s economy, our communities, and the everyday lives of Pennsylvanians,” Shapiro said. “I will keep fighting for additional recurring funding for mass transit in Harrisburg so that we can invest in mass transit systems, including SEPTA, all across the Commonwealth.”

According to a release, the governor’s action comes after Senate Republicans refused to support long-term, recurring funding for mass transit in the 2025–26 budget, resulting in a lack of capital resources necessary for SEPTA to make urgent safety improvements in line with federal directives.

Federal Safety Oversight and PennDOT Response

This fall, SEPTA was subject to a series of emergency federal directives following safety incidents involving Silverliner IV Regional Rail trains and the trolley network’s overhead catenary system, including those from the FRA, which required inspections and upgrades to all 223 Silverliner IV railcars, and the FTA, which issued an emergency action letter directing inspections of SEPTA’s entire trolley catenary network.

SEPTA completed all required inspections ahead of federal deadlines, returning 98 railcars to service. At the current pace, approximately 180 railcars are expected to be operational by mid-to-late December — enough to restore full weekday Regional Rail service.

While the FRA oversees Regional Rail safety, PennDOT’s State Safety Oversight Agency (SSOA) enforces safety standards for SEPTA’s metro and trolley systems. Under Shapiro, SSOA now reports directly to PennDOT’s Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation, and dedicated managers have been hired, including one focused on SEPTA, with three safety and inspection positions currently being hired.

“PennDOT is using every tool available to support transit systems across the Commonwealth,” said Secretary Carroll. “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.”

Funding Targets Fleet, Power, and Rail Reliability

The $219.9 million in additional PennDOT capital funding includes key investments toward Regional Rail fleet upgrades, railcar leasing and procurement, metro fleet upgrades, utility fleet and power infrastructure upgrades, and critical infrastructure.

“These funds are going to make a significant difference in our efforts to overcome this current crisis — and to prevent problems moving forward,” said Scott Sauer, general manager, SEPTA. “These funds are going to make a significant difference in our efforts to overcome this current crisis — and to prevent problems moving forward. With these new capital dollars, we can advance initiatives that will improve service across the system. This money will be directed to projects that can begin quickly and will enhance safety and reliability for our riders.”

“[Governor Shapira has] been fighting for us since we first sounded the alarm about our funding crisis three years ago,” said Marian Moskowitz, Chester County commissioner and vice chair of SEPTA’s Board. “These new capital funds are a lifeline that will help us maintain our fleet and infrastructure and plan for our future.”

According to the release, Pennsylvania is preparing to host millions of visitors in 2026 for the America 250 celebrations, NCAA March Madness, FIFA World Cup, and MLB All-Star Game.

“This investment allows SEPTA to restore Regional Rail service by the end of the year,” Representative Ed Neilson said. “This is not about rural vs. urban areas because mass transit impacts all 67 counties in Pennsylvania.”