Feds Probe Escalator Problems At PATCO Stations

The Federal Transit Administration is investigating whether a Philadelphia-area commuter rail line's struggles to keep escalators and elevators running at its stations amounts to a violation of federal law that requires access for disabled customers.

PATCO train (Meredith Chambers, Townsquare Media NJ)

The investigation of PATCO, which is part of the Delaware River Port Authority, was reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer

The agency is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a new maintenance contract for the elevators and escalators.

Officials hope the planned deal with a subsidiary of the manufacturer of most of the escalators will make it easier to get replacement parts.

In August, the escalators were working 56 percent of the time.

The agency plans to put elevators in all its Philadelphia and southern New Jersey stations by 2017.