The bill—which includes funding for highways, too—increases aid for transit agency operations by $292 million, or about 25% more, with the lion’s share of the money going to the Philadelphia-based Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal included a spending package that would fund mass transit agencies across the state and increase spending for roads and bridges.
The move to advance a standalone transit funding bill is something of a pressure tactic on the part of House Democrats.
An estimated one million Pennsylvanians rely on mass transit each day in urban, suburban and rural regions.
SEPTA officials said without funding, there will be a 20% cut to all services and a 21.5% fare increase.
Most motorcyclists in Pennsylvania have had the choice of whether or not to wear a helmet for 22 years, but a Berks County lawmaker said Monday that it’s time to make helmet use mandatory again.
“If they cut the 32 bus especially, there goes my job. There goes my place to live. It’d put my freedom on the line.”
Pennsylvania lawmakers approved legislation this week to direct nearly $300 million in new funding to transit agencies in the next state budget.
Public transportation funding continues to remain a top issue during the new legislative session. SEPTA, the country’s sixth largest transit agency, faces an annual $240 million budget shortfall.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike debuted new changes recently, with tolls increasing 5% and open-road tolling east of Reading.
