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Governors

Governor Shapiro Calls on State Senate to Act on Mass Transit Funding

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro emphasized the urgency of critical recurring revenue for mass transit in the state, highlighting its impact on the economy, workforce, and quality of life. During a visit to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) headquarters, Governor Shapiro called on the state Senate to pass a comprehensive, bipartisan transportation funding plan. His proposal includes $292 million in new funding for mass transit systems, which have already begun to face significant service cuts and fare increases.

Key Takeaways:

  • Governor Shapiro's 2025-26 budget proposal includes $292 million in new funding for mass transit systems across the Commonwealth, growing to $1.5 billion over five years.
  • This funding would support 52 transit systems, serving nearly one million riders each day in rural, urban, and suburban communities across the Commonwealth.
  • Mass transit supports over 39,000 jobs and drives $5.4 billion in economic activity each year, according to the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association.
  • The Governor has delivered over $380 million in new funding for roads and bridges, improving over 12,000 miles of roads and repairing poor-condition bridges.
  • Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has proposed the first significant increase in state support for transit in over a decade, securing $80 million in funding for mass transit as part of the FY2024-25 budget.
  • Last year, Governor Shapiro transferred $153 million in federal highway capital funds to SEPTA to prevent immediate service cuts and a planned 21 percent fare increase.
  • Mass transit isn't just about the biggest cities; it's essential statewide, with rural shared-ride services providing 2.6 million trips a year for seniors.

Statistics:

  • $292 million: New funding for mass transit systems across the Commonwealth in the Governor's 2025-26 budget proposal.
  • 52: Number of transit systems supported by the Governor's proposal.
  • 1 million: Number of riders served by mass transit each day across the Commonwealth.
  • 39,000: Number of jobs supported by mass transit across the Commonwealth.
  • $5.4 billion: Economic activity driven by mass transit each year across the Commonwealth.
  • 380 million: Total new funding for roads and bridges delivered by the Governor since taking office.
  • 12,000: Number of miles of roads improved with new funding.
  • 2.6 million: Number of trips provided by rural shared-ride services for seniors each year.

Sources:

  • Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's August 10, 2023, press release.
  • SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer's statement.
  • Autumn Fingerhood's testimony as a SEPTA rider.
  • Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association's data on the economic impact of mass transit.

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