TELL THE STATE SENATE TO GET THE MASS TRANSIT FUNDING OUT THERE NOW!!!

I am writing to you today as a concerned resident of Pennsylvania regarding the urgent funding crisis facing our state’s mass transit systems—particularly SEPTA and other regional transit agencies. Without immediate and sufficient investment from the Commonwealth, significant service cuts are set to begin in mid-August. These cuts will have a devastating impact across communities and constituencies throughout the state. Public transit is not a luxury—it is a necessity for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians. It’s how commuters get to work, how patients get to critical medical appointments, and how students—particularly as the academic year begins—get to school and college campuses. In cities like Philadelphia, thousands of high school students rely on SEPTA buses and trains daily to access their education. Similarly, college students from suburban areas depend on regional rail lines to get to class, internships, and part-time jobs. Seniors and people with disabilities—many of whom cannot drive—will be disproportionately harmed. For them, transit is a vital connection to pharmacies, grocery stores, healthcare, and community life. Losing service means losing independence. The economic impact of these cuts will also be felt widely. Local businesses that depend on foot traffic from transit riders will suffer. Tourists, who often rely on urban transit systems to explore cities instead of renting cars, may find it harder to navigate places like Philadelphia—affecting our tourism economy. And of course, working families across the state will be left scrambling for options in the absence of affordable, reliable transportation. The truth is that Pennsylvania’s economy, equity, and environment are all tied to the strength of our transit networks. Delaying or denying funding now will not only cause deep harm in the short term—it will also jeopardize the long-term viability of systems that are critical to our state's prosperity. I urge you to act now. Please allocate the necessary funding to keep Pennsylvania’s mass transit systems fully operational and accessible. Our communities, our economy, and our future depend on it.