PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Monday is deadline day for the state budget. Philadelphia City Council members are in Harrisburg urging lawmakers to include more money for SEPTA.
Philadelphia council members want Senate Republican leaders to increase SEPTA funding to avert devastating cuts.
“I’m going to Harrisburg with the council president to make the case for why we need this funding — not just for my district, not just for the city, but honestly for the entire region,” said Councilmember Jamie Gauthier to reporters at City Hall before boarding a bus to the Capitol.
Without additional state funding, SEPTA service cuts would begin Aug. 24 with dozens of bus routes eliminated as the transit agency addresses a $213 million shortfall. A school district analysis shows 21,000 students would be affected by the proposed cuts, as well as seniors traveling to and from the doctor’s offices and the workforce. Council President Kenyatta Johnson says the ball is in the Senate’s court.
“The House Democrats sent over a budget to them, and we are urging them to pass that budget. But also showing them the importance of what SEPTA means and what this funding means, not only to the City of Philadelphia but also to the region,” Johnson said.
The governor’s budget includes $300 million more for mass transit statewide, but Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman has said that increase is “difficult to reconcile” with the state’s $3 billion deficit.
The budget deadline is Monday at midnight.