Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) officials have unveiled its Transit Supportive Community Development (TSCD) Program, which seeks to expand transit access.
“Making our communities easier to navigate by transit, walking or biking enables more people to take advantage of SEPTA’s frequent network and upcoming transformational service improvements laid out in SEPTA Forward,” SEPTA CEO/General Manager Leslie S. Richards said. “Development that supports and expands access to transit is key to reaping the benefits of public transportation, like reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced household transportation costs, and increased social mobility. We are excited to launch a program that makes an inclusive, safe, and sustainable future possible.”
The endeavor would shape development near SEPTA services, increasing ridership, bolstering social equity via mixed-use and mixed-income projects, and reducing vehicle reliance.
SEPTA has partnered with the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association to host a webinar on Nov. 3, officials said, as a means of providing a TSCD overview and insight from panelists from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco.
SEPTA, which serves Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties, generates over $3 billion in annual statewide economic activity, per officials. And proximity to SEPTA services contributes to $33 billion in housing values region-wide.