HARRISBURG, Pa. — Governor Josh Shapiro on Monday approved a request from SEPTA to shift $394 million from PennDOT’s capital assistance funds to cover operating expenses for SEPTA and Pittsburgh Regional Transit for two years.
The move has temporarily ended the biggest hurdle in the current budget negotiations, which has divided Democratic and Republican lawmakers in Harrisburg over whether further long-term funding is necessary for transit agencies.
State Senate Appropriations Chair Scott Martin (R-Lancaster) had urged the administration to take this step rather than use more funds from the state’s sales tax revenue, which had been the backbone of Democrats’ proposals to fund mass transit…