In my previous email, I mentioned that SEPTA had proposed a significant rate increase to help make up its funding deficit.  I am pleased to announce that the increase has greatly reduced thanks to an influx of funding from Gov. Josh Shapiro.

 Last week, the governor announced a critical measure to address SEPTA’s funding shortfall, caused by the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds. To help avoid immediate service cuts and a planned 21% fare increase, Gov. Shapiro has directed PennDOT to transfer $153 million in federal highway capital funds to SEPTA. This will enable SEPTA to maintain operations through at least July 2025 while keeping a fare increase to a minimum.

 The funding shift is a temporary solution, as it reallocates federal funds from projects that are still in the planning stages, without impacting ongoing infrastructure work across the state. While this action offers immediate relief, Gov. Shapiro emphasized that it is not a long-term fix, and efforts to secure a permanent solution for SEPTA and other transit agencies will continue.

 This move follows earlier bipartisan efforts by me and my colleagues in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, which passed legislation to increase funding for SEPTA three times in 2024 without raising taxes. Unfortunately, these proposals have not yet been acted upon by the state Senate.

 We will continue to monitor these developments and keep you updated on further actions regarding SEPTA funding.