PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Members of SEPTA’s largest union joined advocates from across Pennsylvania Tuesday at a statehouse rally for more mass transit funding.
Speaking at the Sheet Metal Workers Hall at Penn’s Landing before he boarded a charter bus to Harrisburg, Transport Workers Union Local 234 President Brian Pollitt said SEPTA needs more state funding to avoid cutting nearly half of its service and raising fares.
“Transit funding is something that we need, and we need it right now,” Pollitt said. “Last year, the governor came to everyone’s rescue with a quick fix. This issue isn’t something that just needs a Band-Aid. This is a situation that needs surgery.”
SEPTA, facing a $213 million deficit, says it will slash nearly half of its service and raise fares without more state funds. But it’s not just a SEPTA problem. Pittsburgh Regional Transit is also facing a 40% cut in service without more funding.
Last year, after the Republican-controlled state Senate failed to vote on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposal to fund mass transit, the governor flexed federal transit funds to throw SEPTA a $153 million lifeline.
The governor has proposed raising the share of sales tax receipts that go to mass transit, but so far, he, the Democratic state House and the state Senate have been unable to agree on a way to raise revenue. Senate Republican leaders say transit increases have to include funding for rural roads and bridges.
Pollitt said lawmakers haven’t been able to offer him a clear solution.
“We’ve been asking for the last two years and we’re getting a lot of different renditions of what they think is going to go on,” he said.
While he’s usually SEPTA’s adversary, Pollitt said they’re fighting on the same side this time.
“On this particular issue, we’re working in tandem. Because if we fail, they fail. If they fail, we fail.”