HARRISBURG -Senators Farry (R-6), Pennycuick (R-24), and Picozzi (R-5) today expressed profound disappointment in SEPTA’s continued lack of communication and accountability as the agency-created crisis will disrupt commuters, workers, and Pennsylvania families.
On August 12, the Senate passed an amended version of HB 257 which provides necessary additional funding in a way that protects taxpayers, improves safety on transit systems, and implements new accountability measures. Importantly, the plan does this without impacting the important programs that the Commonwealth’s General Fund provides, including public education, care for our seniors and veterans and our own hospitals.
In the Senate’s proposal, the majority of the funds would come from the Public Transportation Trust Fund (PTTF), a PennDOT controlled bank account in Harrisburg and SEPTA could have their money today and avoid all this chaos.
Since that vote, SEPTA has been unresponsive to our outreach. The last direct conversation Sen. Farry had with SEPTA was the evening of that vote. On August 15, Sens. Farry, Pennycuick, and Picozzi sent a letter to SEPTA leadership directly addressing SEPTA’s request for clarification on the Senate proposal. Since no reply was received as of today, August 21, the senators sent a follow up letter.
In the letters, the senators clarify that the projected PTTF balance at the end of 2029 after funding all the capital projects and the HB 257 transfer will be almost $2.9 billion.
On August 20, SEPTA’s General Manager Scott Sauer testified at the House Democratic Policy Committee hearing claiming that Philadelphia sports fans will be unable to rely on the system to attend home sporting events. This is a choice that SEPTA is making that is not in the best interest of the public they serve, but it is a choice they are making knowing the negative impact are not only on the fans that use public transit but also adding to the traffic congestion to those that drive.
Ironically, SEPTA continues to pay for advertising at sporting events. Again, showing their poor decision making by choosing to invest into advertising rather than provide service to the commuters.
“SEPTA’s refusal to engage with us is unacceptable,” said Farry. “This is a SEPTA created crisis both financially and operationally based on choices and mismanagement by SEPTA. We remain willing to work with SEPTA to find solutions. Unfortunately, SEPTA has shown no willingness to work with us and only seems to be interested in providing information to the House Democrats.”
CONTACT: Nicole McGerry