Urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to draft and pass bipartisan legislation that will secure necessary funding for SEPTA to prevent service closures, fare increases, and a decline in mobility and economic activity for the citizens of Philadelphia and neighboring counties.

Urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to draft and pass bipartisan legislation that will secure necessary funding for SEPTA to prevent service closures, fare increases, and a decline in mobility and economic activity for the citizens of Philadelphia and neighboring counties. WHEREAS, SEPTA is the primary public transit agency serving the City of Philadelphia and surrounding counties including Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, and Chester, providing vital transportation services to approximately 800,000 commuters, students, seniors, and individuals with disabilities each day; and WHEREAS, SEPTA faces a $213 million budget gap and is proposing a 21.5% hike across the board, raising the current fare on subways, buses, and trolleys from $2.50 to approximately $3.04; and WHEREAS, Safe, reliable, and affordable public transportation is not a partisan issue but a critical bipartisan concern that is essential to Philadelphia’s economy; and WHEREAS, SEPTA narrowly avoided a strike due to these ongoing funding challenges; and WHEREAS, Governor Josh Shapiro redirected $153 million dollars in federal funding to aid SEPTA and avoid service cuts and a 21% fare increase, providing temporary relief to the agency and its riders; and WHEREAS, This funding shift provided immediate relief but did not address the long-term financial stability of SEPTA; and WHEREAS, Governor Shapiro’s proposed state budget includes $170 million in additional support to help prevent service reductions, fare hikes, an…