(The Center Square) – With days to spare, the House Transportation Committee voted for the fifth time on a piece of legislation that would secure mass transit funding Wednesday. This time, it came in the form of an omnibus bill.
The bill would fund both mass transportation and roads and bridges across the state by increasing the amount of existing sales tax collections dedicated to transit. It would also tie funding to performance measures to hold organizations like SEPTA and Pittsburgh Regional Transit accountable.
Earlier in the day, SEPTA issued the legislature an Aug. 14 deadline to secure funding that would prevent cuts and fare increases currently scheduled to go into effect Aug. 24.
“Our deadline to avoid service cuts is now as real as ever with SEPTA drawing their line on the tracks today. We have eight days, but we’re hopeful that the actions of the House Transportation Committee this afternoon will build the necessary consensus to overcome this impasse and keep our city working and economy moving,” wrote the House Philadelphia delegation in a statement Wednesday.
The announcement comes after months of effort from the Democrat-led House to avert a looming budget gap for the system that serves the state’s largest economic center.
“I want to be frank in saying that for too long in this house, it seems like the conversation is focused on what happens in Philadelphia, what happens in Pittsburgh,” said Rep. Manuel Guzman, D-Reading, during the committee meeting. “And yet, we always pretend to forget what happens to all the rest of the cities in between, and quite frankly, this governor’s budget, and this funding for mass transit is equally as important to the city of Reading, as it is to the city of Philadelphia.”
Democrats have focused on the impact transit has on all 67 counties and the vital revenue derived from the more than 750,000 daily SEPTA riders. They maintain that the Philadelphia region contributes 45% of the state’s budget and receives 19% back in return, greatly assisting rural regions of the state economically.
“We don’t mind helping, and we don’t mind helping and lifting people up,” said committee Chair Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia. “So, we’re asking to keep a little bit of ours that we already pitch in.”
Senate Republicans say that mass transit needs to prioritize safety, efficiency, and cost effectiveness without relying on repeated increases from the state government to stay afloat.
House Transportation Committee Republican Chairman Rep. Kerry Benninghoff urged the bill’s sponsor, freshman Rep. Sean Dougherty, D-Philadelphia, to consider the long view, saying that just because sales tax is generating enough revenue for the additional allotment today doesn’t mean it will in the future.
Democrats point to recreational marijuana legislation, a potential source of new revenue for the state, which was killed by the Senate.
“Safety, security, cleanliness, fare evasion – these were all cited by Senate Republicans as pre-conditions to fund transit,” wrote House Democratic leaders Wednesday. “Today House Democrats – without amendment or reservation – will pass every piece of legislation out of committee Senate Republicans have publicly demanded, while also delivering vital funding to keep SEPTA moving. The only issue remaining is: will senators allow their leaders to hold Pennsylvania’s economy and the livelihoods of millions hostage?”
The bill passed committee 16-10. Though it’s unclear if the full chamber will return for a final vote before next month.
The Senate remains on a 24-hour call, with nothing scheduled until Sept. 8, at the earliest. Even so, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana, gave no specific feedback on the latest transit bill.
“On Tuesday I met with Governor Shapiro, and I continue to be optimistic that consensus on a responsible budget can be reached,” he told The Center Square on Wednesday. “Our Senate Republican Caucus is focused on substantive actions and advancing fiscally responsible measures to address the needs of individuals and families across the commonwealth. The Senate remains on a 24-hour call while we engage in discussions and work to reach common ground.”
