Calling on the Governor and the General Assembly to Immediately Provide for Permanent and Predictable Funding for SEPTA and All Public Transit Agencies Across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and, Urging SEPTA's Ridership and City Businesses and Their Employees to Participate in the Pennsylvania Transit Coalition's Rally in Harrisburg on February 14, 2005.

WHEREAS, SEPTA is one of only two multi-modal transit entities in the country providing bus, subway, trolley and rail services to a five-county region; and

WHEREAS, SEPTA has a combined FY 2005 Operating and Capital Budget of slightly more than $1.3 billion and employs 9000 people; and

WHEREAS, SEPTA is a key economic asset to the region serving as an employer and a purchaser of goods and services, a transporter of thousands of workers, students, tourists and senior citizens, and a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization and economic growth; and

WHEREAS, Every year, SEPTA spends in excess of $670 million for products and services, many of which are purchased within the five-county region; and

WHEREAS, Seventy percent of the people who work in Philadelphia's Central Business District ride SEPTA; 65,000 middle school, high school and college students rely on SEPTA; and, senior citizens take more than 95,000 daily trips on the fixed route system; and

WHEREAS, For every dollar invested in public transportation, up to six dollars is returned in economic benefits to the region; and

WHEREAS, Studies show that real estate values are significantly higher in areas convenient to rail lines and many jurisdictions are promoting transit-oriented development; and

WHEREAS, Public transit vehicles produce 95% less carbon monoxide as cars and use half the fuel of private autos; and

WHEREAS, Transit systems in other major cities receive a significant portion of their budget from dedicated sources with Denver at 76.6%, Los Angeles at 52.5%, Boston at 36.5%, and New York City at 30.8% versus Philadelphia at 13.75%; and

WHEREAS, On February 14, 2005, the Pennsylvania Transit Coalition and thousands of transit riders from across the state will travel to Harrisburg to impress upon the Governor and the General Assembly the importance of mass transit and the need to secure dedicated state funding so as to avoid fare hikes and reduced services; and

WHEREAS, SEPTA's ridership is encouraged to join this Rally for Public Transit, and employers are encouraged to join in this rally and permit their employees to participate in this rally to fully demonstrate the importance of public transit to the City and region; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby call upon the Governor and the General Assembly to immediately provide for permanent and predictable funding for SEPTA and all public transit agencies across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and, urging SEPTA's ridership and city businesses and their employees to participate in the Pennsylvania Transit Coalition's rally in Harrisburg on February 14, 2005.

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