Go, GEYA! And, SEPTA and State Budget Updates

Rep. Danielle Friel Otten August 15, 2025 | 4:28 PM

PA Representative Danielle Otten banner image

Dear Neighbor,

On Thursday night, families across the district tuned in to watch our very own Mid-Atlantic Champion Glenmoore-Eagle Little League Baseball team take on the Midwest champion team from South Dakota.

The boys gave it their all, ultimately losing 2-0 in a true pitching duel and defensive matchup between two impressive teams. But all is not lost! The Little League World Series is a double-elimination tournament, so GEYA still has the chance to battle back through the elimination bracket. Their next game will be held at 7 PM this Saturday night, when they face the team from Illinois representing the Great Lakes region.

Win or lose, we are so proud of this hometown team, and Team Otten will be cheering you on this Saturday night!

Be sure to catch the game on ESPN this Saturday at 7:00, and follow the brackets here.

SEPTA and state budget update

On Tuesday, the Senate returned to work for a few short hours, appearing to finally acknowledge that our state’s transit systems face an imminent funding crisis. However, the bill they passed is not a serious or sustainable solution. It is not even a short-term solution or a band-aid fix. It does not fund mass transit at all; in fact, it strips transit funding from Philadelphia and Allegheny counties – the economic engines for our entire state – and diverts it to roads and bridges in rural areas. It takes away funding for critical ride-share services for seniors and individuals with disabilities in all 67 counties.

The actions of Senate Republican leadership this week are reflective of the lack of seriousness they bring to their job. It comes from a place of extreme privilege by folks who hold the belief that they will never be touched by the hardship that their actions will create for thousands of Pennsylvanians. Cynicism is not a solution. Both SEPTA and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) have said that the Senate bill would only make it harder for their systems to operate – taking away the ability to fund critical infrastructure projects AND cutting services statewide.

SEPTA has warned us for weeks that if funding was not assured by August 14, the first round of service cuts would need to take effect starting August 24. With the August 14 deadline now passed, SEPTA announced that it is beginning the process of updating its routes and staffing to implement service cuts beginning August 24 for Bus/Metro service and September 2 for Regional Rail. Fares will increase system wide on September 1.

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission predicts that SEPTA’s proposed cuts will lead to an estimated 275,000 additional cars on the road in the SEPTA region. By their assessment, “Chester County may face the steepest impact,” with the potential loss of the Paoli-Thorndale line in January 2026 likely to result in a 40% increase in delays on Route 202, nearly doubling commute times.

Visit the SEPTA website for specifics about rate increases and the routes and regions affected by service cuts.

We are now nearly seven weeks past the June 30 budget deadline. Senate Republicans’ refusal to negotiate in good faith, vote on the transit bills and budget bills sent over from the House, or draft their own serious budget proposal to send to the House for consideration is affecting not only mass transit, but our local school funding, libraries, county programs, and child welfare agencies.

Please continue to call Senate leadership and urge them to come back to the table to debate any one of the House bills or introduce their own serious proposals for both a general appropriation budget bill and a plan to provide stable, sustainable, recurring funding for transit and transportation in our commonwealth.

New legislation would keep county taxes closer to home

Throughout the budget and transit debate, Senate Republicans have repeatedly questioned why their districts should be asked to help foot the bill for transit they may never use. Setting aside for a moment the basic human decency of wanting everyone to do well, the fact is that the economic engines here in the southeast and out in Allegheny County have long subsidized roads, bridges, schools, police, and many other services for Pennsylvania’s more rural counties.

The whole commonwealth benefits from the dollars generated by our businesses, universities, healthcare systems, and tourism, and the state will benefit further in 2026, as Philadelphia hosts FIFA World Cup soccer, the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, and America250 events. Here in the southeast, we willingly accept our outsized role in the state’s economy, recognizing that everyone benefits when we all take care of one another. I may represent just one district in Chester County, but I want all Pennsylvanians to thrive and succeed.

This week, in response to Senate Republicans’ refusal to invest in Pennsylvania’s economy and our collective future by funding our transit systems, schools, and services, my colleague Rep. Melissa Shusterman announced her intent to introduce legislation that would establish a new method of Indexing of State Tax Collections, to ensure that each region in PA funds its own schools, transit, and police, using their own resources.

Rep. Shusterman’s legislation would assign each county in the state to one of three economic categories, and each category would keep its share of all collected taxes to fund its own schools, medical facilities and services, law enforcement, parks and recreational areas, transportation infrastructure including transit, roads, and bridges, and other essential line-items that are currently appropriated through the state budget.

Stop by and see us at Uwchlan Community Day!

On Saturday, my team and I will be at Lionville Park for the annual Uwchlan Township Community Day celebration. Stop by and say hi between 4 PM and 7:00 PM, then stick around for the fireworks at 9:00.

Event parking will be available at Lionville Middle School and at Downingtown East High School.

Visit the Uwchlan Township website for more event details!

If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on any legislative or state-related issue, please contact my district office at repotten@pahouse.net.

Back-to-School Supplies Drive

The start of the school year is approaching fast, and that means it’s almost time to start preparing for the first day of classes by getting new school supplies for the students in our lives. For some families this means a quick trip to Target or Staples for a new backpack and some folders, but for those already struggling to make ends meet, the start of the new school year can create additional burdens.

To help families in Chester County start the new school year on the right track, my office has partnered with Lord's Pantry of Downingtown for a Back-to-School Supplies Drive.

We will be collecting donations at our district office, 631 N. Pottstown Pike in Exton, through Friday, August 15. Supplies can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4:30 PM.

Learn more here.

Lionville Park & Rossi Park Master Plan Community Survey

Exciting things are in the works in Uwchlan Township!

Uwchlan Township is currently working on a master plan for improvements to Lionville Park and the creation of a brand-new park at the former Rossi Property - and they want to hear from you!

The survey is short & simple and will help shape the future of Lionville Park and Rossi Park.

Take the survey here.

Trails & Transportation Plan Open for Public Comment

Do you use the region’s Circuit Trails – including the Struble Trail, Chester Valley Trail, or Schuylkill River Trail? If so, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) wants to hear from you!

The DVRPC has opened public comment on its draft transportation and infrastructure plan, which maps out investments and funding through 2050. The plan emphasizes safety, environmental sustainability, and community input.

Let the DVRPC know your thoughts about funding trails, green transportation, safety, and more. Comments can be submitted online or by mail until August 20. The final plan will be considered for adoption in September. Review the plan and share your feedback here.

2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application Deadline Extended

The deadline to file Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications, for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2024, has been extended to December 31, 2025. The state will begin to issue rebate checks on July 1, so the sooner you file, the sooner you will receive your rebate if eligible!

Thanks to changes passed in 2023, more people are eligible, with income limits adjusted to keep pace with Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has made it easier for seniors in Chester County to stay in their homes and afford groceries, medicine, and so much more.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians ages 65 and older, widows and widowers ages 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older.

Please call or stop by my office to find out if you’re eligible and get assistance applying for your rebate. We’d be glad to answer any questions and set up an appointment to help you complete your application online!

For those who prefer to file by mail, paper applications will be available in my office soon, and we will update here when they come in.

SEPTA Senior Key Cards and Card Renewals

If you have a SEPTA Senior Key Card that has expired or will expire within the next month, we can renew it in our district office. To renew your card before it expires, please stop by my district office, or call us to make an appointment.

My office can also process applications and take photos for new SEPTA Senior Key ID Cards, which allow seniors 65 and older to travel for free on all SEPTA Regional Rail and transit routes within Pennsylvania. Just stop by my district office and bring a form of ID with your date of birth on it, such as a PA driver’s license or non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate. We’ll enter your information into SEPTA’s online system, take a quick photo, and then SEPTA will mail your new card to you directly.

2-1-1 Southeastern Pennsylvania: Health and Human Services

211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide health and human services for everyday needs and those in crisis situations.

2-1-1 works with county governments and provider agencies to ensure important local program information is easily accessible.

Visit 211sepa.org for more information.

Mental Health Resources: Call 9-8-8

Chester County residents experiencing mental-health-related crisis or distress can dial 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.?This system is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people in crisis to a trained mental health professional.

Chester County offers additional resources for those in crisis, including Chester County’s warm line, 1-866-846-2722, operated by Certified Peer Specialists, who are individuals in recovery with a lived experience of mental health challenges.

Chester County’s Teen Talk Line ensures seamless referral to Mobile Crisis for youth in need of immediate or higher-level support. The call line is 855-852-TEEN (8336), and the text line is 484-362-9515.

Visit the?Department of Human Services website for more information about the 988 system and other state and local mental health resources.

If you or someone you love is in crisis, please don’t give up hope, and please know that you do not need to walk this path alone. We are here and we will do whatever we can to help.

My staff and I are here to help make state government work better for you! For assistance with the above programs or any other state-related services, please email?repotten@pahouse.net, call 484-200-8259, contact us through my website, or visit my district office in Exton and let us know how we can help!

Sincerely,