SEPTA gets stimulus funds for Malvern station work

SEPTA received $12.5 million today that will fund station improvements at Malvern, part of a final flurry of awards of federal stimulus money to local transit agencies.

The money was part of about $200 million in stimulus designated for SEPTA projects early last year, and today's award by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was essentially a formality, marking the completion of stimulus funding by the Federal Transit Administration for $7.5 billion in projects.

The work at the Malvern station, scheduled to begin later this month, will include a new pedestrian underpass and 46 additional parking spaces. The project also includes improved storm-water drainage, new energy-efficient lighting, and fencing. It is to be completed by June 2011, said Robert Lund, senior director of capital construction for SEPTA.

The work, being done by J.J. Anderson Inc. of Philadelphia, will cost $9,230,000. The remaining $3.3 million from the stimulus grant will be used for other projects on the R5/Paoli-Thorndale line, Lund said.

In a telephone news conference, LaHood - joined by U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter and Robert Casey and U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, all Democrats, praised Pennsylvania for being "at the top of the list . . . in taking advantage of this economic-recovery funding."

On another topic, LaHood said his department would make a decision soon on Pennsylvania's application to impose tolls on Interstate 80. He said Gov. Rendell had asked for a meeting this month of state lawyers with federal officials to make the case for tolls.

"Once that meeting is concluded . . . we will render a decision," LaHood said.

Specter, Casey, and Holden were equivocal about tolling. Casey said, "The Senate doesn't have a vote on that issue." Holden said, "We need to find the revenue somehow" to repair highways. Specter said, "I'm not going to say."