(The Center Square) – At the eleventh hour, Gov. Josh Shapiro said he found extra money for the state’s largest mass transit system in Philadelphia and its suburbs.
The governor said Friday that PennDOT will flex $153 million from federal highway capital funds, a move he says will not compromise any projects already underway. This should hold the transit system over until July 1, at which point he expects the legislature to have come up with a longer-term solution.
Even with additional funding, SEPTA will have to face changes ahead: a 7.5% increase was already approved and expected to take effect Dec. 1st of this year.
The situation mirrors budgetary shortfalls across the country as federal pandemic support expires and leadership is left grappling with a whole new landscape of costs and revenue challenges.
In a press release detailing his efforts to find a solution over the last two years, Shapiro said he looks forward to “finding common ground” with Senate Republicans, who have been reluctant to boost transit funding without more support for infrastructure elsewhere in the state.
“The State Senate has publicly stated they require two things as part of a deal on mass transit — funding for roads and bridges, and a new revenue stream,” he said. “I agreed to add funding for roads and bridges, and I have proposed several new revenue streams in both of my first two budget proposals, and remain ready to sign them into law.”
Senate Republican Leader Joe Pittman and Transportation Committee Chairman Wayne Langerholc Jr. said lawmakers had already negotiated on common ground, agreeing to an $80.5 million aid package for the system in July that required officials to crack down on crime and reflect on its fees to account for permanent changes in ridership.
“Rather than making prudent, sensible changes, they have chosen to politicize and pillage critical infrastructure projects for other districts which are well outside of SEPTA reach, ironically, the majority being in Republican districts,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement Friday afternoon.
“Equally troubling,” the statement continued, is that the system depended on Shapiro’s “fairytale wish list” to “sizably” increase its funding, rather than implement other cost-containment measures.
“Now, instead of getting stuff done, the governor is taking stuff away by allowing roads and bridges in Republican districts to deteriorate,” the senators said.
Shapiro said infrastructure improvement is already happening and pointed to his administration’s efforts to repair bridges and roads in poor condition in record-breaking fashion.
Additional measures to cut costs and improve health and safety are important targets not only for Republicans in the Senate but also for the state at large. Tourism events in 2026 loom large over the region, creating a greater sense of urgency than the argument for daily commuters alone. The city is set to host the FIFA World Cup, MLB All Star game, and celebrations of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
“Pennsylvania and more specifically, the southeastern region of our commonwealth will be on display nationally and internationally,” Shapiro said. “It is incumbent on all of us, including the General Assembly, to take appropriate action this upcoming budget cycle to ensure adequate mass transit opportunities are available not only to daily users, but those visiting Philadelphia and the commonwealth.”
