Sajee McElveen and his father, Carl, visited Abraham Lincoln High School in Northeast Philadelphia to collect enrollment paperwork ahead of the new academic year. However, the path Sajee will take to school is uncertain, as the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is set to eliminate numerous bus routes in just a few weeks.
“I’m definitely gonna have to get up earlier,” the younger McElveen remarked about the impending changes.
SEPTA is grappling with a significant budget deficit of $213 million, prompting plans for drastic cuts to its services. Starting on August 24, the authority will cut 32 bus routes and shorten another 16. Additionally, 88 bus, metro, and Regional Rail lines will experience reduced service, with a fare increase of 21.5%.
The ongoing struggle for adequate funding for SEPTA and public transit across Pennsylvania has been a long-standing issue.
Governor Josh Shapiro has proposed an increase in state support for public transit in his budget, a plan that has already been approved by the Democratic-led House of Representatives multiple times. However, negotiations have stalled for the second consecutive year in the Republican-controlled Senate.
On the same day, House Democrats from Philadelphia urged their Senate colleagues to take action. State Representative Sean Dougherty, who represents parts of Northeast Philadelphia, appealed to the Senate, saying, “I’m asking the Senate, respectfully, get back to work, so that my neighbors can get to work.”
With the state budget already over a month overdue, lawmakers emphasized the urgency of addressing SEPTA’s funding situation, especially with the school year set to begin on August 25. They assert that cuts to SEPTA would severely impact an economy that relies significantly on transit services.
State Rep. Rick Krajewski, representing parts of West Philadelphia, emphasized the vital role of mass transit in the lives of many residents. “There are thousands and thousands of people in Philadelphia and beyond who cannot live without mass transit. Students, young professionals, single parents, municipal workers, seniors—these are the people who will suffer if we kill mass transit,” he stated.
The lawmakers expressed their concerns outside Lincoln High School, specifically in the district represented by freshman Republican state Senator Joe Picozzi. Their remarks included repeated calls for Picozzi to urge GOP leaders to bring mass transit funding to a vote.
During an event in the city, Governor Shapiro specifically called out Senator Picozzi, urging residents in Northeast Philadelphia to contact him regarding the necessary funding to avoid service cuts.
In response, Picozzi issued a statement reaffirming his commitment to securing essential funding for SEPTA. “Since taking office, I have been working to deliver crucial funding to keep our trains and buses running. I have introduced legislation to make SEPTA safer and bring additional accountability, which is supported by SEPTA leadership,” he noted.
The legislation mentioned by Picozzi was introduced in late July. It aims to mandate SEPTA to provide a biannual report on its progress toward achieving fiscal solvency or profitability and detail the utilization of state-provided funds. Although this legislation does not secure new funding, co-sponsor state Senator Frank Farry, a Republican from Bucks County, highlighted the need for oversight and safeguards in how SEPTA utilizes state funds.
Farry expressed his support for transit but emphasized the importance of exploring new revenue sources to ensure public transit viability. He pointed to proposals like taxing skill video games as potential solutions. “As long as we get something in that space that generates that new revenue, I think that’s what gets the ball rolling downhill to get this thing solved,” said Farry.
While negotiations related to public transit funding and the broader state budget are ongoing, details remain scarce. When asked about the negotiations, Governor Shapiro noted that discussions are taking longer than anticipated but expressed optimism about reaching a conclusion.
In a letter obtained by CBS News Philadelphia, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman indicated that while some progress has been made on outstanding issues, significant work remains. He mentioned the possibility of senators reconvening in Harrisburg later in the week but noted that it would not be before Thursday.
SEPTA officials have not specified an exact deadline by which they need to receive funding to prevent the cuts; however, they estimate it would need to be addressed by mid-August. This funding request marks just the first round of proposed reductions. Without the required funding, SEPTA would eliminate an additional 24 routes, including five Regional Rail lines, in January and impose a stricter 9 p.m. curfew on remaining subway and Regional Rail services.
State Senator Frank Farry expressed hope that a funding agreement can be reached in time to avoid service cuts. “Can it be done in 20 days? It sure can. Harrisburg is not used to moving very fleetly,” he stated, reflecting the urgency of the situation for commuters as SEPTA’s proposed reductions loom closer.
image source from：cbsnews
