Three days after SEPTA announced it possible major cuts in services and rate increases Facing a looming budget cliff, leaders are trying to secure emergency funding that could keep the agency afloat while the state Legislature remains in recess until January.
Meanwhile, SEPTA has paused its operations “bus revolution” plan to redesign the bus networkthe first time this would have been done in SEPTA history. The plan approved in May included changes such as increasing frequency on some routes by 30%, restoring the full length of some old routes and expanding others.
While all this is happening, the agency is in discussions with members of Transport Workers Union Local 234which represents workers on Philadelphia’s trolleys, subways and buses. The 5,300-member union could go on strike if demands for a new contract guaranteeing wage increases are not met.
On the Philadelphia City Council, Working Families Party member Nicolas O’Rourke introduced a resolution calling on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to divert or to ‘bow’ to the waving transport agency.
The money in question is part of the $4 billion in federal funding PennDOT received from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The City Council resolution urges PennDOT to “redirect” highway dollars into SEPTA’s capital budget, which is used to fund long-term, forward-looking upgrades. The the operating budget, or the daily budget, is subject to the financing crisis which SEPTA says will cause a “death spiral.”
While the federal money could only go to SEPTA’s capital budget, it would free up dollars the agency can use for operations, the resolution claims.
The entire 17-member body supported the resolution.
CBS News Philadelphia reached out to Shapiro’s office for comment on the resolution, but we did not hear back by our deadline. We will update this article if we receive a response.
A DVRPC spokesperson did not directly address flexing, but said of SEPTA’s funding situation, “There are ongoing conversations between our board and PennDOT regarding this issue.”
DVRPC Director Ariella Maron pointed to a letter the committee sent to the Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee in September that called for “funding to support robust transit service in our region” and “sufficient and sustainable transportation investments in our future.”
The letter also pointed to two House bills, 902 and 1307, that would help counties contribute to SEPTA through funding sources such as a local gas tax, cigarette tax, hotel tax or liquor tax, in addition to increases in state funding.
“Southeastern Pennsylvania was built around public transportation, and we inherited a public transportation network that, if built today, would have staggering costs. Our transportation network has allowed the region to thrive, generating 42% of Pennsylvania’s entire economy, with 32% of its population occupying just 5% of its land area. This level of economic productivity and density is only possible with a robust, efficient public transportation network to move people throughout the region,” the letter said.
Some in the Pennsylvania House also support flexibilization. Rep. Ben Waxman, a Democrat who represents Center City and South Philadelphia, sent Shapiro a letter urging him to shift highway funds from the bipartisan infrastructure bill to SEPTA.
“[T]ime is essential. I urge you to take the decisive steps necessary to protect our public transportation systems and ensure a stable, equitable future for Pennsylvanians and the economy,” Waxman wrote.
