Funding PA's Public Transit: Background

Transit Chronically Underfunded

Public transportation funding from the state has not kept pace with inflation over the last 20 years. In fact, funding between 1995 and 2005 decreased an average of 1.3 percent each year, adjusted for inflation.

Meanwhile, transit agencies are struggling to afford skyrocketing fuel costs and health care costs for workers.

Funding shortfalls have led to big problems for transit agencies. From 1996 to 2005, transit agencies across the state accumulated a $457 million operating shortfall. Agencies were forced to cut back service, raise fares and dip into capital funds to make up the difference.

Harrisburg Delays Action

The funding crisis hit the state hard in 2004, when deficits forced agencies like SEPTA to threaten to eliminate weekend service. The Port Authority of Allegheny County approved a plan to raise fares 43 percent and cut service by 25 percent to close the gaps in their budget. Smaller transit agencies across the state faced similar problems.

But rather than solving the funding crisis by creating a sufficient, reliable source of funding for public transportation, policy-makers in Harrisburg used a one-time infusion of funds to temporarily close budget gaps. Those temporary funds will be used up by the end of the year.

Public Transportation: A Vital Public Service

More than 300 million rides are taken on public transportation in Pennsylvania every year.

In Philadelphia alone, over 65,000 children use public transportation to get to school.

Public transportation reduces global warming and smog pollution by more than half for every passenger mile traveled.

Over 43 million rides are taken by seniors who rely on low-cost or free trips on public transit in Pennsylvania each year.

A Call For A Permanent FUNDING SOLUTION

PennPIRG is urging the governor and legislators to pass legislation before the November elections that will ensure transit funding is:

Sufficient. Make sure transit agencies have the money they need to keep pace with rising costs, and avoid service cut-backs and dramatic fare hikes;

Reliable. Make sure transit agencies know how much money they can rely on each year, so they can make long term plans to improve the quality of service rather than struggling through one funding crisis to face another; and

Permanent. Ensure that transit funding solution is permanent, and does not require additional legislative fixes in future years.