PHILADELPHIA (September 14, 2026) – SEPTA has been awarded $80 million in federal All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) funding to make three stations in the Center City Trolley Tunnel fully accessible, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced.
“Ensuring that every customer can access transit service that is safe, clean and reliable is a core part of SEPTA’s mission,” said SEPTA Board Chair Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. “Station accessibility projects like those this grant will fund are critically important to that effort. I want to thank our Congressional delegation for establishing this vital program and working to support our application.”
ASAP funding will allow SEPTA to construct accessibility improvements at 22nd Street, 33rd Street and 36th Street 
Stations, which are located in the Center City Trolley Tunnel. Originally built in 1955, these three stations are only accessible via stairs, preventing individuals with disabilities that require the use of a mobility device, families with strollers or anyone who is physically unable to use stairs from traveling to and from these destinations.
The projects will bring the stations into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Each station will be retrofitted with elevators connecting street level to the underground boarding areas. Raised platforms and other enhancements will also be constructed to accommodate the new fleet of low-floor streetcars that SEPTA is procuring as part of Trolley Modernization.
“Accessibility is critical for SEPTA and our riders,” said SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer. “Across the SEPTA system, we are currently advancing more than a dozen Metro and Regional Rail station accessibility projects that will greatly improve the customer experience. This major ASAP grant will expand our capacity to deliver these critical improvements, and we are grateful for the FTA’s confidence in our program in awarding this grant.”
This is SEPTA’s second ASAP grant. The Authority was previously awarded $56 million to support ADA station improvement projects at five Metro stations. At Erie Station on the 
, SEPTA became the first transit agency in the nation to advance to construction on an ASAP-funded project. Last month, SEPTA broke ground on a $44 million ASAP-funded accessibility project at 11th Street Station on the 
.
“This money will make all the difference for our seniors, for Pennsylvanians with disabilities and for anyone who relies on SEPTA,” said U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA). “I’m proud of the steps SEPTA has already taken to make its system more accessible for all riders, and I’m grateful for the FTA’s support of this important work.”
Created in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) provides discretionary funding for projects that retrofit or upgrade rail stations to ensure that all public areas are accessible to people with disabilities, including those who use a mobility device.
“This $80 million investment is a major win for SEPTA riders and will help make three of Philadelphia’s trolley stations more accessible for all Pennsylvanians who rely on public transportation,” said U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA). “I’m committed to reauthorizing the All Stations Accessibility Program along with Senator Duckworth to ensure this important program continues delivering for communities in Pennsylvania and across the country.”
“When we invest in our public transit accessibility, we invest in our community,” said U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (PA-03). “That’s why I was proud to help establish this vital grant program through President Biden’s historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and fight for SEPTA to receive this critical federal funding. It will increase accessibility at stations throughout Philadelphia- improving the transit experience for all riders.”
“This investment is a win for every Philadelphia resident who relies on safe, accessible, and modern public transportation,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “Making the stations at 22nd, 33rd, and 36th Streets fully accessible is more than an infrastructure upgrade. It’s a commitment to equity, and ensuring Philadelphians can visit family and friends, attend school or get to work. I am proud that with our partners at the Federal Transit Administration and SEPTA, we are building a transit system that serves everyone.”
For more information about SEPTA, visit septa.org, follow @SEPTA, or download the official SEPTA app.
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