(Lansdale, Pa.)

(NOTE from the House Democratic Caucus: Commissioner Ellis is a Republican.)

Ellis calls on lawmakers to fund mass transit

By Margaret Gibbons

04/17/2007

Montgomery County Commissioners Chairman Thomas J. Ellis has called on Harrisburg lawmakers to take a leadership role in financing mass transit in the state.

The Legislature must develop a dedicated funding source for SEPTA and other mass transit agencies, said Ellis, one of the county's two representatives on the SEPTA board.

"Mass transit is too important to let it die," said Ellis.

Ellis' comments came during testimony he offered at last week's public hearing in Norristown on SEPTA's proposals to offset a looming $150 million operating deficit in its proposed 2007-08 budget.

SEPTA officials have said the mass transit agency can tackle $50 million of the deficit on its own by hiking fares, which have not been increased since 2001, by an overall 11 percent, coupled with improved efficiencies that will result in reduced expenses and an increase in revenue generated by increased ridership.

However, if the state cannot come up with an additional $100 million, the agency would be forced to hike fares by 31 percent while also decreasing weekday service by 20 percent with additional cutbacks on Saturdays.

Calling this last proposal, which has been designated Plan B, "draconian," Ellis said its implementation would kill mass transit at a time when it is growing in southeast Pennsylvania.

"Just when more and more people are leaving their cars for trains and buses, we will be eliminating service," said Ellis.

And that would have a major impact on the economy of the county and region, said Ellis.

With a 3 percent unemployment rate, county businesses are dependent on mass transit to bring in workers from the city, he said.

Service cutbacks or even the elimination of mass transit in the county will increase the county's already congested roads, spur sprawl development and increase greenhouse emissions, according to Ellis.

When mass transit goes to Harrisburg for additional funds, it has repeatedly heard from many of the lawmakers, particularly those in the more rural areas, that their constituents do not have mass transit and it is not a priority issue for them, according to Ellis.

He said he heard that same argument from one of the county's own lawmakers when the commissioners recently met with the county's delegation to urge them to push for a dedicated funding source for mass transit.

Ellis said he does not buy into that argument.

The constituents of these lawmakers will have to travel the same congested roads as those now served by buses and trains and they are not immune to sprawl or greenhouse emissions, he said.

Ellis said he has no preference as to what should be earmarked as a dedicated funding source.

The governor has proposed a tax on oil companies doing business in the state. Others have called for an increase in real estate transfer taxes.

"What I do know is that there has to be additional funds from Harrisburg," said Ellis.