Gov. Josh Shapiro signs an executive order in Philadelphia meant to streamline permitting processes for infrastructure projects statewide, Nov. 19, 2024 (Commonwealth Media Services photo)
PHILADELPHIA — Gov. Josh Shapiro acknowledged Tuesday that SEPTA is “really really struggling,” but said the transit agency serving southeastern Pennsylvania “will not fail.”
“I think mass transit is vitally important, and obviously SEPTA is critical here in southeastern Pennsylvania and SEPTA has some unique challenges,” Shapiro said during a press conference in South Philadelphia.
Shapiro noted that he called for a statewide investment into transit in his 2024-2025 budget proposal, which was approved by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on three occasions, but did not advance in the state Senate. He said “the ball is squarely in the Senate’s court.”
“They asked me to consider marrying it together with funding for roads and bridges. I agreed to that,” Shapiro said Tuesday. “They asked me to consider marrying it together with a regulation and taxation of skill games. I agreed to that conceptually, yet they failed to act, and then they ended their session without moving those House bills forward.”
Shapiro told reporters that he would have more to say on “some actions my administration may take” over the coming weeks.
On Nov. 12, SEPTA officials announced a proposal that would increase fares by nearly 30% by January 1 and later lead to service cuts.
One solution some transit advocates have suggested, including state Rep. Ben Waxman (D-Philadelphia), is for Shapiro to flex federal infrastructure funds to prevent the looming service cuts and fare increases. Waxman posted a letter he sent to Shapiro’s office on social media last week urging him to consider the flex funding option.
“The Senate GOP’s decision not to address the budget shortfall has forced us into an all-hands-on-deck situation where every tool at our disposal must be considered to avoid significant harm to our transit systems,” Waxman wrote in the letter. “I urge you to take swift action to reallocate available federal infrastructure funds to support our transit systems in the immediate term.”
“Although this solution is not ideal, it is now our only option, given the Senate’s decision to leave this critical funding need unmet,” Waxman added.
Asked about flex funding on Tuesday, Shapiro didn’t shut the door, but reiterated that he sees the funding problem as one the legislature can and should solve. He called the measure a stop-gap motion, but praised Waxman for “working hard on the issue.”
“As I said, I’ll have more to say on SEPTA in the coming weeks. There’s no substitution for the fact that the legislature hasn’t gotten a bill to my desk,” Shapiro said. “I’ve been calling for this for a year. I think the Senate needs to get serious about moving forward on this.”
Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) said in a statement to the Capital-Star “with an issue of this magnitude requiring a funding source that won’t place additional burden on taxpayers, as well as addressing the need to put more dollars not only in mass transit but also in transportation infrastructure, it takes a governor to lead.”
Pittman told the Capital-Star in a Nov. 12 email that “SEPTA must take steps to increase the safety and efficiency of the organization before any additional taxpayer dollars are committed.”
“Additionally, I have made it clear that any transit discussion at the state level cannot occur without consideration of transportation infrastructure investment,” Pittman said.
SEPTA COO Scott Sauer told reporters on Nov. 12 that at that time he wasn’t aware of any specific conversation about flexible funding, although he said he was “aware that something like that happened years ago.”
SEPTA is scheduled to host two public hearings on the proposed fare increases, beginning on Dec. 13 at the Pennsylvania Constitution Center.
SEPTA is also currently in negotiations with the unions representing the workers of the transit agency.
“The Sixers belong in Philly”
At the same press conference on Tuesday, Shapiro repeated his stance that the Philadelphia 76ers, the city’s team in the National Basketball Association, should remain in the City of Brotherly Love.
Philadelphia City Council is currently in the second week of public hearings on the 76ers building an arena in Center City. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, the Black clergy of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Building Trades back the proposal to build the arena in the Market East section of Center City, while nearby Chinatown residents and business owners oppose it.
In September, Shapiro told the Capital-Star that he was “confident” the team would remain in Philadelphia as New Jersey offered a proposal for the NBA team to build their next arena over the Delaware River in Camden.
On Tuesday, Shapiro didn’t say whether he supported or opposed this proposal to build in Center City, but reiterated that he believes the team should stay in Philadelphia.
“The Sixers belong in Philly, and city council is now taking up the mayor’s proposal,” Shapiro said. “I’m not going to get ahead of city council. They’re going to go through their process.”