The Federal Transit Administration awarded a $12.8 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery 2012 (TIGER 2012) discretionary grant to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) to rebuild the Wayne Junction Power Substation.

The project is one of 47 transportation projects in 34 states and the District of Columbia selected to receive funding under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s highly competitive $500 million TIGER 2012 grant program.

The substation, which was originally constructed in 1931 and has been in continuous operation ever since. It continues to operate with the majority of the original components and is the central point, supplying power to SEPTA’s Main Line and northern branches which collectively carry over 17.5 million passengers annually.

Philadelphia identified the project as necessary to improving the reliability and safety of a critical transit substation in urgent need of repair. The Wayne Junction Power Substation serves a critical role in the Philadelphia region’s commuter network, powering much of SEPTA transit systems. If the Wayne Junction substation failed, commuters across the Philadelphia area and surrounding counties that rely on SEPTA’s Main Line and northern branches, including the Lansdale-Doylestown, Warminster, West Trenton, Fox Chase, Chestnut Hill East and Norristown Lines would be without regional rail.

The grant will also replace 25 indoor and outdoor rail breakers, transformers, cut-out switches, relays, and control equipment. Maintaining the substation will ensure efficient, cost-effective, and safe commuter rail service for the City of Philadelphia and the region.

The TIGER 2012 discretionary grant program awards grants to innovative projects that are difficult or impossible to fund through other federal programs. In many cases, these grants will serve as the final piece of funding for infrastructure investments totaling $1.7 billion in overall project costs. These federal funds are being leveraged with money from private sector partners, states, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations and transit agencies.