Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Scott Martin (R-Lancaster) has urged Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Democrats to use existing resources to address mass transit funding needs as lawmakers continue working on the state budget.
Martin stated that Governor Shapiro already has the authority to allocate funds from the Public Transportation Trust Fund (PTTF) to cover additional operating expenses for mass transit agencies, which could help prevent further service reductions. “Governor Shapiro has authority to get money to SEPTA immediately – without any further legislative action – but has so far shown no willingness to do so,” Martin said.
According to 67 Pa. Code 427.6(b), the administration can allow capital assistance funds to be used for operating assistance for up to one year if it is necessary to avoid service cuts. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has already implemented some service reductions.
Martin pointed out that the PTTF currently holds more than $2.4 billion, which he said would be sufficient to fulfill Governor Shapiro’s request for an additional $292.5 million in mass transit funding for Fiscal Year 2025-26 without affecting ongoing asset improvement projects across Pennsylvania. He also noted that the fund receives over half a billion dollars in new taxpayer revenue each year.
In recent media interviews, Governor Shapiro indicated that using excess PTTF money, as proposed by Senate Republicans, could help address immediate challenges facing mass transit agencies.
“This is part of what we mean when we say the SEPTA cuts are a manufactured crisis,” Martin said. “The governor already flexed $153 million in federal funding away from scheduled road and bridge projects to support SEPTA last year because he said they needed the money. Why would he not use his authority now to allow mass transit agencies to utilize unused funding that is specifically dedicated to mass transit? That doesn’t sound like someone who wants to get stuff done.”
“Governor Shapiro falsely claimed earlier this week that Senate Republicans were holding up passage of the budget for political gain, even while he and his Democrat allies have taken every opportunity to sling mud at our leadership and our members in the southeast,” Martin added. “When your side is staging rallies, press conferences and protests every day and calling out individual legislators who are working hard to find solutions, how do you have the gall to accuse the other side of playing politics?”
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