SEPTA has cited the increased value of suburban homes by rail stations as one of the reasons why mass transit is essential to the well-being of the region and the state, writes Sam Wood for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The study found that rail service added $14.5 billion to residential property values in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Bucks counties.

In the report SEPTA Drives the Economy of Pennsylvania, SEPTA also points to the reduced need for parking in Philadelphia and shows that transit supports a $3 billion segment of Pennsylvania’s economy. This was part of its pitch to secure $6 billion over the next 15 years from state and local agencies for major improvements.

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The highest priorities over the next decade include modernizing trolleys to carry more passengers and updating them to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It also says Regional Rail Lines need to replace 231 cars from the Richard Nixon era.

“We’re handling 53 percent more riders than we did in the ’90s, without adding track or cars,” said SEPTA general manager Jeff Knueppel. “We’re worried about being able to keep supporting the economic activity in the region.”

Read more about SEPTA in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

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