Governor Josh Shapiro announced last week that his 2024-25 budget proposal will include nearly $1.5 billion in new state funding for public transit systems over the next five years.
The investment adds to Pennsylvania’s existing contributions by 1.75 percent, or $282.8 million per year, and, if approved, will be the first increase from the state in over a decade, Shapiro’s office said in a statement.
The plan’s funding hopes to avoid immediate service cuts or fare increases for SEPTA as well as “create a more balanced and stable funding structure for SEPTA for the future.”
The announcement also noted that Shapiro “insisted SEPTA address concerns about cleanliness and safety on the system – and he has asked local counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania whose residents benefit from the system to meet this moment with additional support.”
SEPTA CEO and General Manager Leslie S. Richards noted that the Governor has “made clear his expectations that we at SEPTA step up to address our community’s serious concerns about cleanliness and safety.”
“Ever since I was a State Representative and County Commissioner in Montgomery County, I have supported SEPTA and the critical services it offers to hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians every day. SEPTA has presented plans to address safety and cleanliness throughout their system, and county officials have entertained a willingness to step up to the plate and increase their support – as a result, my Administration is prepared to make a major investment in SEPTA,” Shapiro said.
“Hundreds of thousands of people across our Commonwealth rely on public transit every day to commute to work, go to school, and get to where they need to go – and Pennsylvanians deserve clean, safe, cost-effective ways to travel throughout our cities and towns,” Shapiro said. “That’s true all across our Commonwealth, whether you’re traveling to work in Philadelphia on SEPTA or you’re a student in Pittsburgh using PRT to get to school. Investing in and improving our public transit systems is a commonsense way to create good-paying jobs, spur economic development, and help Pennsylvanians reach their destinations safely. For months, my Administration has worked with local public transit leadership and elected officials to understand their needs and I now call on the General Assembly to join me in making the first significant investment in Pennsylvania’s public transit systems in over a decade.”
The statement acknowledged that millions of Pennsylvanians rely on public transit for work, school, travel, and to visit one another, and that efficient public systems attract new businesses.
Millions of visitors are expected for America’s 250th anniversary, the FIFA World Cup, and the MLB All Star Game in 2026, Shapiro’s office said.
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Photo: Pennsylvania.gov.us