COUNCIL CALLS ON GOVERNOR SHAPIRO TO REALLOCATE HIGHWAY FUNDS TO SEPTA

Councilmember O’Rourke delivered a letter, signed by all Councilmembers, to Governor Joshua Shapiro and the DVRPC, urging them to “flex” funding towards SEPTA

This afternoon, Minority Whip Nicolas O’Rourke sent Governor Joshua Shapiro and Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) leaders a letter reflecting Philadelphia City Council’s unanimously passed resolution calling for the “flexing” of federal highway funds to save SEPTA from a crushing cycle of reduced ridership, revenue, and service.

The letter — signed by the entire legislative body — referenced SEPTA’s projections that the system would suffer “annual losses of $40-50 million from decreased ridership and maintenance and capital improvements.”

“Once the downward spiral starts, it will be nearly impossible to stop,” the letter reads.

In the FY25 budget Council approved an increase in the local allocation for SEPTA north of $20 million, while the Philadelphia Delegation’s best efforts to pass supportive measures died in the PA Senate. Unfortunately, the current deficit, spurred by the end of pandemic-era funds and a still recovering ridership base, is too severe to wait for local or state budgetary cycles to address.

The time is now, there is ample precedent, and Council speaks as one: SEPTA must be saved.