By Kim Glovas

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Delaware River Port Authority is looking at an advertising deal by SEPTA and wondering if it can do the same for the cash-strapped train system.

The finance committee of the DRPA is looking into allowing advertisers to place ads at 13 PATCO train stations.

According to the DRPA’s Tim Ireland, the system actually got the idea from SEPTA.

“SEPTA has a station on Broad Street, Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, where the stadiums are, and I believe it sold naming rights to AT&T,” said Ireland. “We’re looking at our stations, we see them as possible advertising assets, and we’re considering the possibility. We’re in preliminary discussions.”

PATCO is operating with a deficit this year of nearly $20-million. The DRPA is looking at whether hospitals located near those train stations would be interested in buying names rights.

The Delaware River Port Authority, through a subsidiary, operates PATCO and the RiverLink Ferry.