PA Senate Hearing & Rally

On Tuesday, October 1, 2024 SEPTA General Manager/CEO Leslie S. Richards testified with Katharine Eagan Kelleman of Pittsburgh Regional Transit, Richard Farr of rabbittransit, and Tim Geibel of Crawford Area Transportation Authority at a Senate Transportation Committee hearing asking final legislative approval in October of the Governor's proposal to fund public transportation.

The panel highlighted the critical role public transportation plays for millions of Pennsylvanians in all 67 counties - connecting employees and customers to businesses, students to school, and seniors to essential services. And that without additional funding, there will be dire consequences for our riders, the communities we serve, and the Commonwealth as a whole. Severe service reductions and major fare increases will trigger a spiral of less service and higher costs. That will critically compromise individual mobility and economic productivity across the state.

After the hearing, Leslie joined a broad based group of supporters including TWU 234 and hundreds of stakeholders and legislators at a Rally in Harrisburg to urge action on new transportation funding because a robust transportation network - with public transportation as its foundation - is essential to connect our communities and maintain a strong economy.

The General Assembly is in session again this week and we are continuing our full-court press to secure passage of long-term dedicated funding for transit. We are grateful for public transportation's many supporters in the legislature and partners and advocates in transportation who are supporting this critical effort on behalf of statewide transit and those who rely on it every day.