Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Senator Scott Martin has voiced concerns over Governor Shapiro’s decision to redirect $153 million of federal highway and bridge capital funds to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).
In a statement, Senator Martin emphasized the need for SEPTA to implement reforms and address fare issues that have remained unchanged since 2014. He criticized the Governor’s action as merely a temporary solution, stating, “Instead, the Governor bailed them out by putting a Band-Aid on a wound much bigger, and diverted money away from Pennsylvania’s other critical infrastructure needs – almost all of which are in districts represented by Republicans.”
Senator Martin stressed the importance of developing solutions that benefit all aspects of Pennsylvania’s transportation network. He remarked, “We’ve been clear that transit isn’t the only part of our transportation network. The solutions we develop should benefit ALL Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure needs.”
The senator also highlighted concerns about the sustainability of this funding approach. He warned, “It’s also important to point out that this is a one-time fix, not a sustainable model.” Without necessary changes to make SEPTA safer and more efficient, he argued that taxpayers would continue bearing significant costs annually.
Martin further criticized the actions taken by Governor Shapiro and House Democrats, suggesting they contribute to worsening the state’s structural deficit and could lead to higher taxes for families. “As hardworking Pennsylvanians struggle to make ends meet,” he stated, “the Governor and House Democrats continue to take actions that will worsen the state’s structural deficit and march us towards higher taxes on families. The Shapiro shovel just keeps making the hole deeper.”
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