PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will receive an extra $219.9 million in state funding to address infrastructure work and safety issues, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced today.
The money will come from the state’s Public Transit Trust Fund, the source of money for capital projects that was also used to keep SEPTA at current operating levels when a court blocked the transit agency’s plan for service cuts because of a shortage of operating funds [see “Pennsylvania governor approves use …,” Trains.com, Sept. 8, 2025]. It will be used to bring SEPTA into compliance with safety orders from the Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Transit Administration, including repairs to Silverliner IV cars after a series of fires earlier this year [see “FRA issues an emergency order …,” Oct. 2, 2025].
“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,” Shapiro said in a press release.
Shapiro previously diverted $153 million in federal highway funds to address a budget shortfall in 2024 [see “Pennsylvania governor’s move …,” Nov. 23, 2024]. The federal government is reportedly now considering changes that would prevent such moves [see “Transit advocates blast proposal …,” Nov. 18, 2025].
Funding for the state’s transit, and particularly for SEPTA, remains the source of a significant partisan divide. Shapiro, a Democrat, and Democrats in the state House have sought or passed legislation to provide more operating funds; Republicans in the Senate have blocked that funding, seeking more funding for highways and saying SEPTA reform is needed. That played a part in an impasse that left the state without a budget for months; a budget was finally passed on Nov. 12, 135 days late.
The use of the trust fund money for SEPTA removed that issue from the fight over the 2025-26 budget, but left long-term transit funding unaddressed, a fact Shapiro mentioned at a Monday press conference: “Sadly, the Republicans who lead the Senate have been unwilling to come up with a deal to deliver reliable, recurring funding for mass transit,” he said in remarks reported by the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, a nonprofit news site.
Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana, Pa.) said in return that it was not until his party’s efforts “shed light on the massive fund balance that the governor’s hand was forced to make these resources available for their intended use.”
The money allocated today calls for $95 million to address the Silverliner IV issues and upgrade the newer Silverliner V equipment; $17 million for the lease of 10 railcars from Maryland’s MARC and an effort to purchase 20 additional cars from Montreal’s Exo; $8 million for upgrades to rapid-transit and trolley equipment; $48.8 million for repairs to the trolley network’s catenary system, along with new equipment for inspection and repair of that equipment; and $51.5 million for what is termed “other safety-critical infrastructure investments,” including improvements at SEPTA’s control center.
“These funds are going to make a significant difference in our efforts to overcome this current crisis — and to prevent problems moving forward,” said SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer. “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.”
