HARRISBURG -A bill to invest in transportation infrastructure and help improve the safety, accountability and stability of Pennsylvania’s mass transit systems, specifically SEPTA, has been approved by the Pennsylvania Senate, according to by Sen. Frank Farry (R-6).
“The stresses that have been needlessly put on students, families, riders and workers was unnecessary and entirely avoidable,” said Farry. “Instead of real solutions, House Democrats have proposed $300 million in cuts to existing programs. Our plan delivers the funding our transit agencies need, especially SEPTA, while holding them accountable and ensuring safer operations, all without adding to our structural deficit.”
The legislation matches and exceeds the Governor’s own funding proposal by providing $292.5 million to mass transit this year and another $300 million in Fiscal Year 2026-27. As amended by the Senate, House Bill 257 provides necessary additional funding in a way that protects taxpayers, improves safety on transit systems and implements new accountability measures. Importantly, our plan does this without impacting the General Fund.
Recognizing that roadways Pennsylvanians use to get to school and work are also in need of repair, our plan provides the same amount of funding ($292.5 million this year and another $300 million in Fiscal Year 2026-27) for roadway reconstruction.
The legislation ensures the majority of the new money comes from the Public Transportation Trust Fund (PTTF). The PTTF has grown from $370 million in 2019 to more than $2.4 billion today in a PennDOT bank account. Pennsylvania needs common-sense solutions that take advantage of the money we have before asking hardworking taxpayers to send more of theirs to Harrisburg.
Because the PTTF receives billions of dollars of revenue each year, the legislation would not jeopardize any planned capital projects.
Rather than following the House Democrats’ approach of taking more money out of the Sales and Use Tax – which will impact General Fund support for public schools, nursing homes, hospitals and other priorities.
When it comes to mass transit the measure responds to safety concerns and will increase criminal penalties for assaulting transit workers. I authored legislation that would make it a crime to interfere with an operator of a bus or mass transit vehicle. The bill was named after U.S. Army veteran Bernard Gribbin – a SEPTA bus operator who was murdered while working.
The safety measures will also increase penalties for dealing drugs on transit platforms, prohibit ‘safe’ injection sites near transit locations, establish local match requirements dedicated to improving safety and reducing fare evasion, and extend and update the authority of the SEPTA Special Prosecutor.
Accountability measures for SEPTA will include new audit requirements and enhanced system performance criteria. Transit agencies will be allowed to explore new revenue-generating advertising options.
I have been working on legislation for over two years that would provide a long-term solution for reoccurring revenue for our transit agencies in our Commonwealth. I introduced Senate Bill 1142 in April 2024, which would bring skilled games fully under the Gaming Control Act and would generate over a billion in revenue with fifty percent allocated to transportation funding.
We urge the House of Representatives to return to work and concur with House Bill 257 to provide an immediate solution to transportation infrastructure and mass transit needs in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
View Farry’s full remarks here.
CONTACT: Nicole McGerry