Elected Officials React To Proposed SEPTA Cuts
by Alex Lloyd Gross
SEPTA needs cash and they have proposed serious cuts in service that include curtailed operations in the region, not just in Philadelphia. This will impact people that use the transit system for work or school.
Members of the PA House of Representatives have have issued a statement, through House Speaker Joanna McClinton), House Majority Leader Matt Bradford), House Majority Appropriations Chairman, Jordan Harris.
“We are extremely concerned about the impacts Pennsylvanians will feel, including those in the southeast region, if mass transit systems across the state like SEPTA are not funded through the state budget. We know that hundreds of thousands of people rely on SEPTA in their daily lives to get to work, school, appointments and much more.
“These proposed SEPTA cuts will hurt many more Pennsylvanians than just the 800,000 who ride SEPTA buses and trains every day. Adding 175,000 more cars to our roads and making it harder for tens of thousands of workers to get to and from the job will have a ripple effect through our entire economy.
“We know how important SEPTA is to our region and we share Gov. Josh Shapiro’s commitment to fund public transit. The governor proposed funding mass transit systems statewide in the last budget cycle and in his current proposal, and House Democrats passed legislation to fund SEPTA and mass transit systems three times last session. The fact is, Senate Republicans refused to move it forward. We’re ready to do the right thing again, but the question remains: Will Senate Republicans again abandon people in their own communities who rely on public transportation systems?
Alex Lloyd Gross File Photo Delaware Valley News.com SEPTA recently put retro trolley cars into service in Philadelphia.
“SEPTA is rightly sounding the alarm and we must act, or Philly and the suburbs will see bus and regional rail routes eliminated, reduced service and SEPTA workers and a fare increase. We fully stand with SEPTA in their call for state funding, but more importantly, we stand with the riders who need and deserve public transit and the SEPTA workers whose jobs are at risk. House Democrats fully support funding SEPTA and all mass transit systems that are in every single community in Pennsylvania.”