Governor Josh Shapiro and his administration have presented his 2024-25 budget proposal, and it would include the commonwealth’s first increase in public transportation funding in over a decade, writes Sean Kitchen for The Keystone.

Shapiro is calling for a $282.8 million increase in SEPTA and other public transit funding, plus an additional $1.5 billion in new state funding over the next five years. 

“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,” said Shapiro.

The proposed public transit funding increase comes at a time when SEPTA is faced with a $240 million budget shortfall. 

Residents who rely on the transit authority will face steep fare increases and drastic service cuts if the shortfall can’t be fixed.

“We are at a critical juncture for transit in the Philadelphia region. Without strong, sustained federal support, Pennsylvanians risk losing transit access entirely,” wrote Pennsylvania members in a recent letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, urging the Biden Administration to continue investing in SEPTA. 

Read more about the Shapiro Administration’s efforts to gain more funding for SEPTA at The Keystone. 

_____