SEPTA logged record rail ridership in FY2015

During fiscal-year 2015, ridership along the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority's (SEPTA) Regional Rail system increased 2 percent versus FY2014 to 37.4 million trips, marking a new record for the agency.

Rail ridership now has increased by more than 50 percent over the past 17 years.

"SEPTA is thrilled to continue to welcome new riders to the system," said General Manager Joseph Casey in a press release. "We look forward to delivering further enhancements for our customers with long-needed capital improvements that are now underway."

SEPTA also finished FY2015 with a balanced budget for the 16th consecutive time. Some ways the agency reined in yearly expenses included efforts to combat fraudulent lawsuits and the implementation of a wayside storage program that uses regenerative braking on rail cars.