Gov. Josh Shapiro speaking at a press conference at the Frankford Transportation Center in Philadelphia on Friday, Nov. 22 about funding for SEPTA. (Capital-Star photo by John Cole)
PHILADELPHIA — Answering the pleas of public transit advocates in southeastern Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro has directed Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll to immediately transfer $153 million in federal highway capital funds to SEPTA.
“That money will prevent service cuts, and that money will prevent the dramatic increases in fares that SEPTA has been contemplating at least until next July,” Shapiro said Friday at the Frankford Transportation Center in Philadelphia. “It’s going to ensure that the people of southeastern Pennsylvania who rely on SEPTA every day, that they’re going to be able to get where they need to go, they’re not going to face higher costs.”
SEPTA officials have sounded the alarm for months about its funding challenges and on Nov. 12 proposed increasing fares by over 20% by Jan. 1. While that increase has been averted, a smaller increase of 7.5% goes into effect Dec. 1.