Congressman Fattah Announces $12.8 million for SEPTA's Wayne Junction Substation and Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA-02) announced today that SEPTA will receive $12.8 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for infrastructure projects including the Wayne Junction Substation that provides power for half of the regional rail system.
"The Wayne Junction Substation in Nicetown is critical to SEPTA's commuter rail power grid. Like so much of our nation's infrastructure, this 1920s-era substation is long past its prime and in desperate need of replacement," said Fattah. "This project will bring jobs to North Philadelphia, improved service to SEPTA riders, and it will advance a neighborhood resurgence that includes last year's dedication of dramatic improvements to North Philadelphia/Wayne Junction Station itself."
Fattah added, "I wrote Secretary Ray LaHood advocating for this grant and I've been fighting for these infrastructure projects as a major element in President Obama's jobs program, which our economy and our communities desperately need."
The grant, for $12,862,699 came from U.S. DOT under the National Infrastructure Investments or TIGER 2012 Discretionary Grants Program: Capital Grants. The application includes participation by the City of Philadelphia and PennDOT and also calls for improvements to 11 bridges across Southeastern Pennsylvania.
"I am extremely grateful for the hard work of everyone who made this application to improve mobility in the city a success. This was truly a team effort," said SEPTA General Manager Joseph M. Casey. "The Wayne Junction Substation is one of SEPTA's most critical power distribution facilities, supplying electricity to six SEPTA Regional Rail Lines. I am pleased that funds from this TIGER grant will be going to replace equipment that has been in continuous use since the 1920s and is well past its useful life. This will improve service and reliability for millions of riders annually."
SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah
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