The Pennsylvania House has taken a significant step towards securing necessary funding for public transportation services by passing a sweeping legislation on Monday.
With only three days left to avert severe service cuts to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the House voted in favor of the legislation, HB 1788, with a final tally of 108-95. This move came in the face of opposition from most Republican members of the chamber, who have voiced hesitations regarding increased funding for transit.
The bill has garnered support from Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, but Republican senators have remained resistant to the proposed transit aid increases. The state Senate is scheduled to convene on Tuesday afternoon, although it remains uncertain if any measures concerning SEPTA will be addressed during this session.
Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman has refrained from specifying the agenda for the upcoming meeting. He hinted that options would be evaluated to handle the repercussions of a budget stalemate.
HB 1788 is designed to strengthen transit systems and finance road and bridge projects across all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. A substantial portion of the funding aims to bolster SEPTA, preventing cuts that could drastically affect service levels.
This legislation provides a considerable increase in aid for transit agency operations, totaling $292 million—approximately a 25% augmentation, with SEPTA receiving the bulk of this additional funding.
There is growing urgency as SEPTA has made it clear that it cannot afford to wait any longer for these funds, warning that it must initiate service cuts imminently. The agency has indicated that these reductions will be more extensive than any executed by a major transit organization in the United States.
If state funding is not confirmed by this Thursday, SEPTA officials have stated that cuts will commence as early as August 24. The agency, which stands as the sixth-largest public transit system nationwide, has alerted riders that it could reduce half its services by January 1. This projection raises concerns about its capacity to provide enhanced transit options for significant tourist events in the coming year, including the FIFA World Cup matches in Philadelphia and celebrations linked to the nation’s 250th birthday.
Proposed fare increases, rising by 21.5% on September 1, are also on the horizon. Following that, a hiring freeze will be put in place, and further service cuts are anticipated by January 1, ultimately leading to a substantial decrease in current service levels.
Democrats emphasize the necessity of fortifying public transportation agencies across the state as a crucial element for stimulating the economy and ensuring that residents can access work, school, and medical appointments.
In contrast, Republican lawmakers advocate for enhanced operational efficiencies in transit agencies, an increase in funding for highways, and higher fares for transit riders. This legislative push comes on the heels of a two-year deadlock, coupled with challenges facing transit entities across the nation, such as climbing expenses and diminishing ridership.
State Rep. Sean Dougherty, a Democrat from Philadelphia, articulated the time-sensitive nature of the funding requirements. He highlighted the extensive reliance of communities throughout the Commonwealth on SEPTA services.
“Northeast Philadelphia runs on SEPTA, and many communities all across the Commonwealth heavily rely on public transit,” Dougherty stated. “If these cuts are implemented, it will affect real lives, exacerbate job losses, and negatively impact businesses of every size, extending beyond my district to all 67 counties. We are out of time! The Senate needs to reconvene immediately and secure funding for public transit, as the welfare of our state is dependent on it.”
Transit agencies in Pittsburgh and other regions of Pennsylvania are also in the process of implementing service cuts and fare hikes.
Under HB 1788, an additional 1.75 percentage points from state sales tax revenue—rising from 4.4% to 6.15%—will be allocated to a public transit fund, facilitating the operational costs of numerous transit systems statewide. This sales tax increase is projected to generate around $292 million.
To attract Republican support, Democrats incorporated multiple provisions into the bill, including up to $325 million in borrowing authority for highway projects, $275 million allocated for improvements on smaller, rural roads, and a requirement for performance standards for both the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh transit agencies.
The current bill is one of five measures approved by the House aimed at funding public transit without imposing additional tax burdens on Pennsylvanians. However, the Senate has yet to take action on any of these previous proposals.
Following House approval, HB 1788 will now be forwarded to the State Senate for consideration.
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