1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to act immediately to address the public transit funding crisis threatening Southeastern Pennsylvania and the entire Commonwealth. SEPTA is facing a $240 million annual budget shortfall, and without urgent state intervention, Pennsylvanians will face drastic service cuts, fare hikes, and job losses starting in July 2025. These cuts would devastate working families, seniors, students, and people with disabilities who depend on SEPTA every day—and they would ripple far beyond Philadelphia. Transit systems across the Commonwealth are facing similar challenges. What’s needed is a strong and sustainable state commitment to fund public transportation. SEPTA has already done its part—cutting costs, boosting ridership, and leveraging federal funds—but it cannot close this gap without state support. Without action, reduced transit access will hurt our economy, worsen traffic and pollution, and limit opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians. I urge you to commit to increased and stable transit funding in this year’s budget. Public transit is not optional—it’s essential to Pennsylvania’s economic health, environmental goals, and equity. It’s time for the Commonwealth to step up.