THE US Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced the recipients of grants worth a total of $US 631m under the second round of its Rail Vehicle Replacement Programme.
Chicago commuter agency Metra, Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Septa) will receive the funding to replace commuter coaches, LRVs and metro cars respectively.
Metra will receive $US 100m to acquire 50 double-deck commuter coaches. They will replace coaches that have been in service for over 40 years and will offer improved levels of safety, accessibility and passenger comfort, according to FTA.
FTA has awarded MDOT MTA $US 214m towards the purchase of 52 low-floor LRVs for the Baltimore light rail network, replacing the current fleet that has been in service for over 25 years. The state of Maryland is providing $US 90m in matching funding and allocating $US 127.6m in federal formula funds to the fleet renewal project.
Septa will receive $US 317m towards the cost of up to 200 new metro cars for the Market - Frankford Line in Philadelphia, the busiest on the Septa network. They will replace M4 trains that have been in service for nearly 25 years. Septa is planning to spend a total of $US 950m to replace the Market - Frankford fleet up to the 2031 financial year.
The Rail Vehicle Replacement Programme is being funded under the Biden administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and will receive a total of $US 1.5bn up to the 2026 financial year.
According to FTA, one-third of metro and commuter cars in the United States are over 25 years old, contributing to delays and increased maintenance costs, while lacking modern amenities such as audio-visual passenger information systems. They may also fail to meet current requirements for accessibility.
All new rolling stock purchased with federal funding, including under the FTA’s Rail Vehicle Replacement Programme, must comply with the Buy America Act. This requires at least 70% of a new car to be built in the US, where final assembly must also be undertaken.
Applications for the Rail Vehicle Replacement Programme opened in October 2023 and FTA received funding requests worth a total of $US 1.97bn.
The first round of awards under the programme funded rolling stock replacement in Sacramento, Miami, Chicago, St Louis, Cleveland and Salt Lake City.
“Newer, better railcars will mean a safer, more reliable, more accessible transportation future for the people of these communities,” says FTA administrator, Ms Nuria Fernandez.
“These cars also represent hundreds of jobs in American factories, building the next generation of American transit.”
“This federal funding is vital to enhancing safety, accessibility and performance on MTA’s light rail,” says Maryland transportation secretary, Mr Paul Wiedefeld.
“By having a more reliable light rail fleet with low-floor cars, MTA will deliver premier customer service to the greater Baltimore region.”
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