SEPTA got stopgap relief, but still needs a sustainable long-term solution
We have a vision for SEPTA’s future, one in which transit can make a defining difference in attracting people, businesses, and investment to live and work in the five-county SEPTA service region.
Gov. Josh Shapiro recently authorized SEPTA to divert up to $394 million that had been allocated for future infrastructure needs to close our current operating budget gap. That is certainly good news for SEPTA riders, our employees, and the entire region — all of whom have suffered through delays and uncertainty during the past six months of protracted budget negotiations in Harrisburg.
These dollars, combined with revenue from a critically needed fare increase, mean we can keep SEPTA trains, buses, and trolleys operating without the massive service cuts that would otherwise be necessary.
For now.
We are kidding ourselves if anyone believes this stopgap measure solves the need for a long-term funding solution, especially if we’re serious about improving the region’s economic competitiveness.
Our goal is to make SEPTA the best public transit system in the nation
What it amounts to is a Band-Aid. It lets us restore service and bring stability in the short term, but it comes at a cost. The funds we are diverting were supposed to pay for things like new buses, trolleys, trains, and critical infrastructure.
SEPTA already has the oldest rail fleet in the country — with some train cars dating back to the Nixon administration — as well as stations and vehicles that are still inaccessible to disabled people, which together contribute to a multibillion-dollar backlog of essential repair and maintenance work that is needed to keep the system running. Using capital funds for operations keeps us moving today, but it pushes those critical investments further down the road.
We have a different vision for SEPTA’s future, one in which transit can make a defining difference in attracting people, businesses, and investment to live and work in the five-county SEPTA service region.
What we intend is nothing less than transformational, and our goal is to make SEPTA the best public transit system in the nation, and the system our region deserves.
Our vision for SEPTA will feature:
A modern metro system with 200 new train cars on the El (the Market-Frankford Line), 130 modern trolleys on our eight trolley lines, and stations that are fully accessible, easy to find, and with modern amenities — even at trolley stops.
A reimagined Regional Rail system where more frequent service and a simpler fare structure make our trains far and away the best choice for traveling into and out of Philadelphia and throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. We can create a system with trains coming and going every 15 minutes or better at more than half the Regional Rail stations.
An efficient bus network with faster, more reliable service that meets the needs of our riders. That means connecting neighborhoods to major employment centers and shopping corridors, and providing reliable and convenient service days, nights, and weekends.
We see SEPTA as the literal driving force that positions our region to remain competitive, spurs job growth, attracts top employers, encourages tourism, and supports thriving neighborhoods across the five counties we serve.
But here’s the problem: Getting to “best in class” service means working with our public partners to secure additional capital investments for new trains, buses, and trolleys, including the very same $394 million that we are now redirecting to current operations.
The funds we are diverting were supposed to pay for things like new buses, trolleys, trains, and critical infrastructure.
All of which underscores the continuing need to find a long-term funding solution that addresses SEPTA’s structural deficit and provides reliable future revenues both for operations and investment in SEPTA’s future.
For our part, SEPTA will continue working to reduce costs wherever we can, and find new ways to generate additional revenue — from parking fees and advertising, to fighting fare evasion through more Transit Police enforcement and upgrades to improve our fare gates. After delaying planned fare increases for eight years, we have also raised fares to help cover our expenses, maintain service levels, and pay employees.
» READ MORE: SEPTA service restoration is a short-term win | Editorial
We will continue making progress to make the system safer, more reliable, and more accountable to our funders and customers. Meanwhile, we stand ready to continue working with leaders in Harrisburg to develop a long-term solution that addresses both our operating needs and the capital investment so critical to our future.
A strong public transit system doesn’t just move people, it drives the success and growth of our entire region and commonwealth. Together, let’s make it happen.
Scott A. Sauer is the general manager of SEPTA.