STV Tapped to Lead Procurement for New SEPTA Railcars

STV announced March 19 that it has been selected by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to lead the procurement for up to 200 new, state-of-the-art M5 metro railcars for the agency’s Market-Frankford Line (MFL).

According to STV, the firm will provide project management, design, engineering, testing, inspection, commissioning and maintenance support services for the planned procurement. The new vehicles, STV says, are a key part in the rejuvenation of SEPTA’s MFL, the “cornerstone” of its rapid transit network, which carries approximately 54,000 commuters a day from the 69th Street Transportation Center just outside West Philadelphia, through Center City to the Frankford Transportation Center in Northeast Philadelphia.

The M5 vehicle procurement, STV says, is the key component of a larger suite of improvements for the MFL, which last received new vehicles in the late 1990s. At the time, they were the first heavy railcars in SEPTA’s fleet to feature electronic destination signs. Between 2003 and 2006, the cars underwent minor rehabilitations and upgrades to the interiors.

SEPTA’s MFL upgrades will be partially funded by a $317 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant—the largest grant the agency has ever received—courtesy of the 2021 Infrastructure and Investment in Jobs Act (IIJA).

“These upgrades will greatly benefit the MFL’s daily riders during their diverse commuting needs—from work and school to leisure activities,” said James Martin, P.E., PMP, STV Senior Vice President and head of the firm’s vehicles group.

STV says it has been a long-standing partner with SEPTA and its vehicle procurement programs for more than 20 years, providing professional services for the agency’s Silverline V commuter cars and currently supporting SEPTA’s Trolley Modernization.

Additionally, STV’s vehicles team has supported the Amtrak Airo Intercity Trainsets, Amtrak Long Distance Fleet Replacement, NJ Transit ALP-45DP Dual-Powered Locomotive, Metro-North Railroad Dual-Powered Locomotives, Metra Bi-level Coaches and the Maryland MTA Baltimore Metro Subway programs.