SEPTA is planning to implement several changes to its transit network over the next two years if enough funds are made available, writes Alison Burdo for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The multimillion-dollar public transit system is planning to add its first Direct Bus brand route by the end of 2019. SEPTA is also looking to integrate double-decker rail cars into its Regional Rail lines, replace signals across the entire rail network, catch up on its $2 billion vehicle replacement backlog, expand its Key Fare Program, and examine other areas for improvement.

[uam_ad id=”58459″]

Advertisement

These are all contingent on sufficient funds being made available to the system, which has not been profitable in decades. And while $350 million has been added to SEPTA’s annual capital budget through Act 89, the money is far from guaranteed.

SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel said that the funds are necessary so the transit system can keep up with the economic momentum in the region.

“SEPTA does not want to run out of capacity and hinder what this region can fully become,” he said.

Read more about the transit systems plans in the Philadelphia Business Journal here.

[uam_ad id=”58462″]