Calling on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) and its Board of Directors to keep the level of service by maintaining weekend city services.

WHEREAS, SEPTA has caused great hardship among the residents who heavily rely on public transportation by stating that due to a $62 million dollar deficit, it will be forced to slash services; and

WHEREAS, Such proposed cuts in services would effectively dismantle public transportation; and

WHEREAS, The residents of the City of Philadelphia, pays a much larger share of SEPTA's budget than the suburban counties. In fact, in fiscal year 2004, the City of Philadelphia contributed approximately $53 million, which is 80% of SEPTA's subsidy that it receives from all the counties that contribute; and

WHEREAS, If services are cut it will be the residents of this city that will be greatly effected than the residents in the suburban counties; and

WHEREAS, Governor Edward Rendell authorized an external audit of SEPTA in May 2003 for the purposes of examining the fiscal crisis at the transit authority, but to date, the audit has not been completed; and

WHEREAS, Mayor John Street has suggested to the Governor that SEPTA be completely overhauled in hopes to ensure that the agency can better manage its fiscal issues; and

WHEREAS, SEPTA has been a part of the lives of the residents of the city and any cuts in service, shutting down of stations and transit stops, or any reallocating of service can drastically effect all of us, in that jobs are tied to people's ability to get to work; and

WHEREAS, SEPTA's budget shortfall must be acknowledge by our State Representatives and our State Senate in hopes that they will take a closer look on how SEPTA can resolve their fiscal problems; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we call on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) and its Board of Directors to keep the level of service by maintaining weekend city services.

End