We are delighted Gov. Josh Shapiro has stepped in to provide a one-time bandage for SEPTA’s current budget hole, holding off any further fare increases or service cuts — for now. This is great news, given the dire scenario the transit agency was facing in the new year.
But this is not the end of the fight to fund SEPTA at the levels riders deserve. We expect the governor and our local and state representatives to work together next spring to craft a long-term solution to the chronic underfunding of public transit in the Philadelphia region and across the Commonwealth.
Philadelphia and SEPTA have much to celebrate over the upcoming years, and we have to prepare. We must also ensure the system is healthy enough long-term to be an economic engine for our region and lifeline for so many while offering a climate-friendly alternative to our traffic-clogged roads.
Negotiations start in January on the 2026 budget, setting fiscal benchmarks for the time when Philadelphia hosts our country’s 250th anniversary, FIFA World Cup, and MLB All-Star game. This provides a new opportunity to get the legislature and the governor to work to build a comprehensive transportation funding package to support public transportation and all transportation infrastructure, including our roads, highways, bridges, airports, and seaport needs across the Commonwealth.
The future of SEPTA, of course, is about more than 2026, but these events must be a catalyst to usher in a new era for mass transit in the region. We must all work together to make sure they’re the best possible showcase for our city and point our economy in a direction that is sustainable for years to come.
While we wish our representatives had already fixed this problem, we’re grateful to the governor for stepping in to prevent SEPTA from falling into a death spiral.
When lawmakers return in January, be ready — we’ll call on all of you to bring the same energy and ingenuity you’ve mustered for nearly a year to a fresh campaign to fully fund SEPTA.
Thanks so much for your support.
Bob Previdi and Jo Winter, on behalf of the Save the Train Coalition
