SEPTA unveils $727.2 million capital budget for FY2018

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has released a $727.2 million capital budget for fiscal-year 2018.

The plan provides $241.6 million for vehicle acquisitions and overhauls, including purchasing additional locomotives, multilevel rail cars and utility vehicles, according to the budget document.

The FY2018 budget allocates $21.8 million for replacing catenary wire and modernizing railroad and transit substations, many of which were built in the 1920s and 1930s.

In addition, the budget provides $2.1 million for restoring rail service on the Media/Elwyn Regional Rail line from the existing terminus in Elwyn, Pa., to a new terminus in Wawa, Pa. That project involves renewal of bridges, track, signals and the catenary system, as well as construction of a new station building and parking deck at Wawa.

The budget will advance SEPTA's "Rebuilding the System" initiative, an ongoing  transit reinvestment plan, agency officials said in a press release. SEPTA began implementing the initiative after the 2013 passage of Act 89, which provides transportation improvement funds throughout Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, SEPTA unveiled its 12-year capital program, which includes $3.12 billion for vehicle acquisitions and overhauls and $277 million for communications, signal systems and technology improvements.