Neilson statement on continued inaction from PA Senate on mass transit funding
State Rep. Ed Neilson, chair of the PA House Transportation Committee, released the following statement on the state Senate’s passage of two Republican mass transit bills (S.B. 713 and S.B. 952):
“The bills approved by the Senate only affect SEPTA and Pittsburgh Regional Transit, without providing any additional funding to them or the other mass transit systems across the Commonwealth.
“Public transit affects all 67 counties of the Commonwealth – it’s not just a ‘city issue,’’ Neilson said. “Residents outside of cities still need and deserve a comprehensive long-term funding solution.”
SEPTA accepts $394M in state capital assistance
PennDOT recently approved SEPTA’s one-time use of up to $394 million in state capital assistance to cover operations. The assistance will allow SEPTA to restore full service on Sunday and to reinstate a 21.5 percent system-wide fare increase. It also will allow SEPTA to implement a new bus network in Philadelphia.
Another transit twist … service restored via court order
The mass transit funding crisis in Philadelphia is the canary in the subway tunnel.
And we may be next. The fiscal cliff in Pennsylvania is similar to the red ink facing CTA, Metra, and PACE in Chicago. The only difference is the amount. The projected deficit here is $771 million, next year. In Philly, where the transit system is smaller, it was $213 million, now.