WHEREAS, Council's Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities recently approved a comprehensive comparative review of SEPTA operations among the ten largest cities in the United States and found that SEPTA is not cost effective when compared to peer agencies according to data that the agency submitted to the Federal Transit Administration; and
WHEREAS, In budget testimony before City Council in February of 2001, SEPTA representatives were not forthcoming about proposed SEPTA fare increases; and
WHEREAS, In subsequent testimony before City Council's Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities in April of 2001, SEPTA representatives again would not disclose proposed fare increases; and,
WHEREAS, SEPTA has since proposed an increase in its base fare rate from $1.60 to $1.90 and a corresponding increase in the cost of a transfer from $.40 to $.60; and
WHEREAS, This proposed fare increase would bring SEPTA's base fare rate to the second highest in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, the proposed cost of tokens would increase from $1.15 to $1.30 and the cash cost of the Paratransit-Shared Ride program would also increase from $2.85 per trip to $3.50 per trip; and
WHEREAS, These particular burdens imposed by these fare increases will be borne by Philadelphia's most vulnerable citizens, the young and the old; and
WHEREAS, SEPTA should, at a minimum, freeze costs for the School District of Philadelphia, its largest client, and for senior citizen programs, for its most long-standing clients; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council urges the City of Philadelphia representatives on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Board to oppose SEPTA's proposed fare increases.
End