Image courtesy of SEPTA Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ISEPTAPHILLY/)
With the first day of school approaching, state lawmakers remain deadlocked on transportation funding — leaving Philadelphia students and other commuters facing looming SEPTA service cuts.
SEPTA plans to begin a 20% service reduction on Aug. 24 if it doesn’t secure funding by Thursday’s deadline to balance its $213 million budget deficit. Further stages of its “doomsday plan” — including fare hikes and the elimination of several regional rail lines — are set to roll out later this year.
In a last-ditch effort, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives met Monday to pass a public transit funding bill, increasing aid for transit agency operations by $292 million, or 25% more. House Bill 1788, the fifth transit funding bill approved by the House this session, will advance to the GOP Senate to await uncertain approval.
The House’s final push follows Sunday’s press conference, where Gov. Josh Shapiro and state transit officials urged lawmakers to fund transit and infrastructure projects. The bill arrives just days before SEPTA plans to cut 32 bus routes.
“Funding SEPTA and mass transit is absolutely critical,” Shapiro said at Sunday’s press conference. “It is hard work finding common ground, and we have been working diligently at it, but it is time to act now.”
Shapiro said SEPTA actively supports 26,600 jobs in the Philadelphia area and generates over $4 billion for the state economy. The governor originally submitted a state budget proposal back in February, which fully funded state-wide transit agencies, something that’s not only “necessary,” but also “common sense,” Shapiro said.
Shapiro said that SEPTA supports 26,600 jobs in the Philadelphia area and contributes more than $4 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy. The governor’s February budget proposal fully funded transit agencies statewide — a move he called both “necessary” and “common sense.”
Despite Shapiro’s efforts, state lawmakers have been locked in a budget stalemate for over a month. The House has passed four previous transit funding measures this session, with each stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate amid disagreements over how to balance the state’s spending plan. The fifth currently awaits approval.
During the press conference, Shapiro recounted a conversation he had with his son about SEPTA's funding problems.
"Our son Reuben asked me, ‘What’s holding everything up?’ And I said, ‘You know, a big piece of what’s holding it up is there are some folks who don’t believe in funding our buses and our trolleys and our trains and our subways,’” Shapiro said. “My 14-year-old looked up and just said, ‘How are people supposed to get to work, Dad?’”
Additional service cuts expected later this year would slash several regional rail lines, including the most-traveled Paoli-Thorndale line, and end special services like express trips to the South Philly sports complex. SEPTA is also planning a 21.5% fare increase, raising the base fare from $2.50 to $2.90, beginning September.
"For tens of thousands of riders, SEPTA will no longer be a viable option," Scott Sauer, SEPTA’s general manager, said at the press conference.
With the first day of school only weeks away, the cuts will disrupt transportation for more than 55,000 Philadelphia-area students who rely on SEPTA buses. Earlier this week, Sauer said the agency will deploy support staff to high-traffic locations once the changes take effect to assist riders who may be confused, NBC10 reported.
Alongside SEPTA, the state’s second-largest transit agency, Pittsburgh Regional Transit, serving Allegheny County, is also planning massive service cuts that will be forced into effect without state funding. Other transit agencies across Pennsylvania are expected to follow similar protocols to reduce substantial deficits faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shapiro emphasized that transit funding benefits all 67 Pennsylvania counties, not just Philadelphia. Public transportation, he said, is essential not only for commuters but also for providing stable jobs.
“Don’t let anybody tell you this is a Philadelphia issue or a Pittsburgh issue — it’s a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania issue,” Shapiro said.
