Pittsburgh Regional Transit to get nearly $83 million for new light rail cars

PITTSBURGH —

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is getting more than $80 million in federal funding to help replace light rail cars.

U.S. Reps. Chris Deluzio and Summer Lee on Tuesday announced $82.7 million will come from the Rail Vehicle Replacement program, which provides grants to local public transit.

PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman says the investment will help put safer, smoother and more accessible trains on the tracks.

In a statement, Lee and Deluzio said the money will help PRT buy 45 new 170-foot vehicles for the “T” system.

“The new vehicles will replace PRT’s 76 existing 80-foot light rail vehicles, which are more than 30 years old and reached technical obsolescence,” the statement said. “These purchases will help modernize the trains, preserve service, reduce service disruptions, save energy across the light rail network, improve the rider experience, and strengthen the transportation infrastructure that working families and businesses count on every day.”

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