Democrats introduce ‘Transit For All PA’ legislative package as potential lifeline for SEPTA, PRT

Just days after a Republican proposal to privatize SEPTA’s bus services, Democratic lawmakers in Harrisburg announced a legislative package aimed at staving off service cuts to public transit systems statewide. 

Dubbed the “Transit for All PA Funding Package,” the set of bills would provide “dedicated, reliable money” for transit systems across the commonwealth at a time when several of its largest regional systems face dire financial straits. 

State Sen. Nikil Saval of Philadelphia and Lindsey Williams of Pittsburgh announced the legislative package, alongside Allegheny County state Reps. Aerion Abney and Jessica Benham, who plan to file the bills in their respective chambers when the legislature resumes session next week. 

Saval, who told 6abc that lawmakers are “trying to find sources of revenue that already exist, but to raise them and modernize them effectively,” has been at the forefront of calls to fund SEPTA and public transit systems amid Harrisburg’s budget talks. 

“Mobility is crucial to a community’s social and economic well-being and to a region’s health and vitality,” Saval said in a statement. “Our legislature’s ongoing neglect of public transit has led us to the brink of disaster, and we must explore every available option to bridge current funding gaps. The Transit for All PA Funding Package will create sustainable investments in our transit system, fortifying transit agencies to meet the challenges they face right now while simultaneously building a future in which they are able to fully meet the needs of the people who depend on them.”

Williams, speaking on the importance of public transit, said the legislation would make a “meaningful, stable investment” in systems statewide. 

“I have heard from hundreds of constituents, community members and business leaders over the past few weeks about what public transit means to them and how devastating PRT’s proposed cuts would be,” Williams, who serves on the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board, said. “This is about more than getting from Point A to Point B – it is about connecting people and communities, and empowering everyone, regardless of age or ability, to get where they want to go.”

Saval and Williams said the legislation would increase the state’s daily car rental fee from $2 to $6.50 and the state’s car lease fee from 3% to 5%. It would also establish a 6% excise fee on Transportation Network Companies, or rideshare apps, such as Uber and Lyft. 

Advocates said $537 million is needed to restore transit service statewide to 2019 levels, adjusting for inflation, with an additional 10% service expansion in regions outside Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. One such group, Transit For All PA, argues that the state’s car rental fee remains too low and rideshare services need to “pay their fair share to support accessible transportation.” 

When paired with Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal to increase the sales tax allocation, the plan is said to ensure service stability for years to come, ensuring smooth connections between cities and suburbs. 

The Democrats’ proposal comes days after Republican House leader Jesse Topper announced a plan to allow a public-private partnership to help SEPTA fill its fiscal shortfall. 

Toppe pitched a plan that would partner the Philadelphia region’s transit agency with a private bus provider, arguing it would lessen the burden on the system. 

“My legislation will offload, at a minimum, SEPTA’s busing operations to take the burden and expense of this function out of SEPTA’s budget and place it within the operation of a private company that can bring the skill and expertise needed to provide high-quality service at a lower price,” Topper said. 

In response to Topper’s comments, SEPTA said it “moves people more efficiently than nearly every peer system in the country.”

“By almost every metric PennDOT uses to evaluate SEPTA’s operations, SEPTA is one of the most efficient transit agencies in the country and at or near the top in every category,” SEPTA said in a statement. “SEPTA uses 16 percent fewer employees per 100,000 trips compared to the peer average, and SEPTA’s cost to operate each service mode is significantly below the national industry average.”

In a statement, State Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman of Indiana County said he recognized the importance of transit systems but that “taxpayers must have assurances their tax dollars are being used effectively.”

“Transit systems play an important role in our statewide economy, and their services are vital to many who live and work in certain regions of our commonwealth,” Pittman said, adding that “a key component of this discussion is also addressing the transportation infrastructure needs throughout Pennsylvania, especially the roads and bridges serving residents in rural and suburban areas.”

Public transportation cuts could have a significant impact on both the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh regions if funding shortfalls remain unaddressed. 

In March, Pittsburgh Regional Transit announced plans to raise fares and slash the region’s transit service by nearly 40% – cutting 41 bus routes entirely, while making significant reductions to light-rail service, most bus routes and PRT’s paratransit service – unless it receives more funding from the state. The agency, which faces a $100 million deficit starting July 1, also proposed raising transit fares from $2.75 to $3. 

And earlier in April, SEPTA made a similarly dire announcement, stating that it would have to implement severe cutbacks due to a $213 million shortfall this year. If the state can’t fill the gap, SEPTA says there will be extensive service cuts and fare increases; additionally, trains, trolleys and subways would stop running by 9 p.m. 

Note: This story has been updated to include comments from State Senate