{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-evans-septa-announce-80-million-federal-grant-trolley-station-ada", "Rep. Evans, SEPTA Announce $80 Million Federal Grant for Trolley Station ADA Improvements", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PHILADELPHIA (September 14, 2026) \u2013 Today, U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) announced that 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.\n\n\u201cWhen we invest in our public transit accessibility, we invest in our community,\u201d said Rep Evans. \u201cThat\u2019s why I was proud to help establish this vital grant program through President Biden\u2019s 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.\"\n\n\u201cEnsuring that every customer can access transit service that is safe, clean and reliable is a core part of SEPTA\u2019s mission,\u201d said SEPTA Board Chair Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. \u201cStation 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.\u201d\n\nASAP funding will allow SEPTA to construct accessibility improvements at 22nd Street, 33rd Street and 36th Street T Stations, which are all located in Philadelphia\u2019s 3rd Congressional District, 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.\n\n\u201cAccessibility is critical for SEPTA and our riders,\u201d said SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer. \u201cAcross 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\u2019s confidence in our program in awarding this grant.\u201d\n\nThis is SEPTA\u2019s 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 B, 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 L.\n\n\u201cThis investment is a win for every Philadelphia resident who relies on safe, accessible, and modern public transportation,\u201d said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. \u201cMaking the T stations at 22nd, 33rd, and 36th Streets fully accessible is more than an infrastructure upgrade. It\u2019s 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.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis money will make all the difference for our seniors, for Pennsylvanians with disabilities and for anyone who relies on SEPTA,\u201d said U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA). \u201cI\u2019m proud of the steps SEPTA has already taken to make its system more accessible for all riders, and I\u2019m grateful for the FTA\u2019s support of this important work.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis $80 million investment is a major win for SEPTA riders and will help make three of Philadelphia\u2019s trolley stations more accessible for all Pennsylvanians who rely on public transportation,\u201d said U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA). \u201cI\u2019m 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.\u201d\n\nEvans represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. Evans\u2019 website is evans.house.gov and his social media handle is @RepDwightEvans on Youtube, Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-evans-septa-announce-80-million-federal-grant-trolley-station-ada"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7810133285820484, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}