PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Transit advocates in Philadelphia say just because SEPTA was able to use capital funds to reverse its service cuts, the fight for predictable funding isn’t over.
During a Tuesday morning demonstration at LOVE Park, one transit advocate stood inside a mock-up of a burning Regional Rail car, complete with a fog machine creating smoke.
Morgan Allgrove-Hodges from the transit group 5th Square said SEPTA still needs stable state funding.
“We will keep raising the voices of riders until we get a funding solution that means folks can get to work without their train catching on fire,” she said.
Connor Descheemaker of Transit for All PA said using infrastructure funds for operations isn’t sustainable.
“Flexing capital dollars was a bad idea,” he argued. “We should not gamble our future for short-term gain.”
Philadelphia-based state Rep. Rick Krajewski said the rally was meant to keep the pressure on lawmakers to return to Harrisburg and pass a budget with transit funding.
“This event was important to make it clear that in the minds of our constituents, this fight isn’t over.”