SEPTA approves five-year business plan

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's (SEPTA) board last week approved a strategic business plan for fiscal years 2015 to 2019.

The plan is designed as the agency's blueprint for capital improvements, customer service enhancements, ridership growth and other initiatives, SEPTA officials said in a press release.

With the passage of Pennsylvania's Act 89, a new "comprehensive solution for transportation funding," SEPTA is embarking on several projects to catch up on its $5 billion backlog of critical capital projects, such as bridge replacements, power substation overhauls and new vehicle purchases, they said.

The five-year plan was developed to reflect the themes of innovation, integration and renewal, SEPTA officials said. With innovation, they aim to develop business models that can adapt to changing technological and societal circumstances; with integration, they hope to connect the region's mobility options; and with renewal, they expect to focus on speeding up core infrastructure development, they said. Objectives such as safety, state of good repair and sustainability are prominent within each area, officials added.

"The financial support we're receiving thanks to Act 89 enables us to think critically about our vision for the future and address current needs," said SEPTA General Manager Joseph Casey. "At the same time, we have to remain effective and efficient as we deliver service to our customers. This five-year plan provides guidance to help ensure we live within our means and properly manage our financial resources and assets, while also looking to ensure safety, expand ridership and rebuild SEPTA for the future."