Urging Pennsylvania State Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats to write and pass bipartisan legislation that will provide necessary funding for SEPTA.

WHEREAS, SEPTA is the primary public transit agency serving the City of Philadelphia and surrounding counties including Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, and Chester, providing vital transportation services to approximately 800,000 commuters, students, seniors, and individuals with disabilities each day; and

WHEREAS, SEPTA faces a significant funding gap, with rising operational costs, infrastructure needs, and inflation putting pressure on the agency's ability to maintain and expand services; and

WHEREAS, Safe, reliable, and affordable public transportation is not a partisan issue but a critical bipartisan concern that is essential to Philadelphia’s economy; and

WHEREAS, SEPTA narrowly avoided a strike due to these ongoing funding challenges; and

WHEREAS, Governor Josh Shapiro redirected $153 million dollars in federal funding to aid SEPTA and avoid service cuts and a 21 percent fare increase, providing temporary relief to the agency and its riders; and

WHEREAS, This funding shift provides immediate relief but does not address the long-term financial stability of SEPTA; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed bipartisan legislation three times to increase funding to SEPTA and other transit agencies statewide, yet the Senate has not acted on this matter; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State Senate Republicans and Democrats must work collaboratively to develop a comprehensive, fair, and sustainable funding solution for SEPTA that includes increased state investment and innovative funding mechanisms to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access to affordable public transportation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby urges the Pennsylvania Sate Senate Republicans to work with Senate Democrats and write and pass bipartisan legislation that will provide necessary funding for SEPTA.

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