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PRT Receives $82.8 Million Federal Grant to Help Replace Aging Light Rail Fleet

Pittsburgh Regional Transit will receive $82.8 million in federal funding to help replace its aging light rail fleet, providing a significant investment toward the modernization of the region’s light rail system and the future of transit in Allegheny County. The grant comes as PRT, County Executive Sara Innamorato, and regional leaders continue to focus on maintaining and improving the region’s public transportation infrastructure. 

The grant, awarded through the Federal Transit Administration’s Rail Vehicle Replacement Program, will support PRT’s purchase of 45 new 170-foot light rail vehicles. The new vehicles will replace PRT’s 76 existing 80-foot light rail vehicles, which have exceeded their useful design life and reached technical obsolescence. 

“Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians across our commonwealth rely on public transit to get where they need to go every day. Investments like these matter,” said U.S. Sen. John Fetterman. “These grants will make service on the T in Pittsburgh and across the Regional Rail system in Philly safer and more reliable for riders. I’m proud to have fought for this critical funding.” 

"It's great to see the Department of Transportation award $82.8 million to support this critical project. This investment will allow Pittsburgh Regional Transit to replace its aging fleet with modern, longer vehicles, boosting passenger capacity and improving service reliability across Southwestern Pennsylvania,” said U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick. “I was proud to help advocate for this funding and want to thank the Federal Transit Administration for recognizing the importance of this investment and for their full support.” 

“This multi-million-dollar investment in PRT is welcome news for Pittsburgh and for the thousands of riders who depend on public transit every day. Replacing aging rail cars and investing in an updated fleet will help keep the T running on time, reduce maintenance costs and disruptions, and provide riders with safer, more dependable service,” said U.S. Rep. Summer Lee. “I’m proud to partner with our local and federal leaders to make these critical investments in an accessible PRT system that keeps our communities connected and our region moving.” 

“I’m proud that I helped secure more than eighty-two million dollars in federal funding to replace old T train cars,” said U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio. “The T keeps our communities moving, and upgrading PRT’s aging train cars will make service safer, more comfortable, and more efficient—helping folks get to where they need to go. I will keep up the work to deliver federal money to strengthen and modernize Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure.” 

“I’m thrilled we’ve brought this substantial investment in rail cars home to Allegheny County and thank you to our federal partners who helped secure these important funds for PRT,” Innamorato said. “Strategic investments in our fleet help ensure reliability and improve accessibility for our riders. Modernizing the PRT system for today’s riders and future generations is a legacy we can all be proud of.” 

“This investment will help us move forward with a new fleet of rail cars that will provide riders with a safer, more accessible, more comfortable, and more reliable experience,” PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman said. 

The new vehicles are expected to feature a modern, open-concept interior designed to maximize passenger space and accommodate passenger volumes that currently require multi-car trains. On-vehicle wheelchair lifts and flat interior floor layouts will provide accessible boarding at every station across PRT’s light rail system. 

The new vehicles also will feature upgraded propulsion systems and modern interior designs intended to improve energy efficiency, ride quality, and passenger comfort. PRT estimates that replacing its more than 30-year-old technology with modern, high-efficiency vehicles could reduce energy consumption across the light rail network by up to 5 percent. 

The federal grant is an important component of PRT’s broader effort to replace its aging light rail fleet. The total capital cost of the procurement is currently estimated at $777 million, including the vehicles, station modifications for accessibility, platform adjustments, facility improvements, and other costs associated with designing, manufacturing, and deploying the new fleet. 

PRT plans to leverage its capital bonding capacity while pursuing additional grants to help finance the overall project.