[Image Description: A red keystone with white text that reads, “Take Action! Stop Transit Cuts Now!” overlaid on a collage of people holding Transit For All PA signs at a rally.]
Today, SEPTA joined Pittsburgh in announcing massive cuts to service and fare increases. This would effectively kill public transit in the region, and the ensuing damage to Philly’s riders, economy, healthcare system, road congestion and air quality is incalculable.
In response to unprecedented cuts, we must organize for an unprecedented solution! Tell your legislators it’s time for statewide action.
SEPTA announced fixed route service cuts up to 45% and fare increases of 21.5%. The impacts on disabled riders would be even more profound, with 40,000 paratransit trips per year no longer served by SEPTA ACCESS, and fares increased by 35%.
This is not just an Philadelphia issue. In all 67 counties of the Commonwealth, public transportation provides critical access for our elders, youth, disabled community members, and households without access to a personal vehicle. Transit systems statewide are hitting a funding “cliff,” which would devastate communities already suffering under similar cuts enacted over the past several years due to funding austerity.
Just two weeks ago, Pittsburgh Regional Transit announced cuts to fixed route service of up to 35% with an additional 9% increase in fares. This is on top of 20% service cuts over just the last 5 years in Allegheny County. The lack of dedicated, expanded transit funding affects people riding to work in Allentown on LANTA, elders moving around their community safely in Erie, and disabled community members using paratransit in Harrisburg.
Over the last several years, our statewide coalition Transit for All PA! has been organizing for a new, dedicated state funding source to fund the transit services riders across the Commonwealth need. We are a coalition of thousands from communities of all sizes and geographies, and we have a shared demand: to restore transit service across the state to 2019 levels– and to expand transit service in communities outside Pittsburgh and Philadelphia by an additional 10%.
Last week, on a Transit for All PA! statewide call with over 200 transit riders and workers, communities across the Commonwealth ratified a demand and the funding solutions that would meet our collective needs. This funding package would go beyond austerity, and ensure transit funding stability and service restoration for all 67 counties statewide.
