Dear Friends,
This week, my House colleagues and I reconvened in Harrisburg for a rare Sunday and Monday session to vote on a critical piece of legislation, HB 1788. This marks the fifth House-passed bill aimed at resolving the public transit funding crisis which threatens to disrupt the lives of thousands of Pennsylvanians.
House Bill 1788 represents a genuine bipartisan effort. It incorporates language from several Republican-sponsored Senate bills, reflecting a serious attempt to address concerns across the aisle. We knew that the urgency was real and that if no additional funding was secured by August 14th, SEPTA would be forced to announce devastating route cuts and fare increases. These changes would disproportionately impact working families, seniors, and students who rely on public transit every day.
Let’s break down what HB 1788 actually does and why it matters so deeply to our communities:
?? 1. Public Transit Funding
- Increases the Sales and Use Tax transfer to the Public Transportation Trust Fund from 4.4% to 6.15%
- Allows local transit agencies to receive more than 20% of their prior year’s allocation
- Includes hold-harmless provisions to ease local matching requirements over five years
??? 2. Road and Bridge Projects
- Creates two new funds: the Road and Bridge Project Fund and the Road and Bridge Project Sinking Fund
- Authorizes up to $325 million in bonds for infrastructure improvements
- Allocates 0.25% of Sales and Use Tax revenue to support these projects
??? 3. State Route Maintenance
- Establishes a restricted account for three- and four-digit state routes
- Transfers $150 million in FY 2025/26 and $125 million in FY 2026/27
?? 4. Performance and Accountability
- Requires SEPTA and Pittsburgh Regional Transit to meet minimum performance criteria
- Mandates annual performance audits to ensure transparency and responsible use of funds
?? 5. Digital Advertising
- Permits illuminated digital signs on public transportation vehicles to generate new revenue streams
While the House has worked diligently to craft real solutions, the Senate’s response has been disappointing. After eleven weeks of inaction, they returned for a brief session on Tuesday and passed two bills that were more political theater than serious policy. Chief among them was SB 160, the only General Appropriation bill introduced by the Senate this entire budget session.
Senate Bill 160 is wholly inadequate. It proposes flat funding across the board, failing to meet the constitutional requirement to fully and fairly fund public education. Our schools cannot continue to serve students equitably without increased investment. It also falls short of the state’s legal obligation to fund Medicaid at levels necessary to meet health care needs under state and federal law.
And it doesn’t stop there. SB 160 ignores the urgent needs of Pennsylvanians in every other area:
- No meaningful support for public transit systems
- No plan to repair our aging roads and bridges
- No investment in human services or environmental protection
This is not a serious proposal. It’s a missed opportunity to invest in our future, and the House cannot accept it.
The Senate’s other move, amending HB 257 beyond recognition, was equally troubling. Their version raids the Public Transportation Trust Fund, redirecting capital funding to cover operating costs without providing any sustainable or recurring revenue. This “rob Peter to pay Paul” approach is not a responsible way to run a transit system. It adds nothing to long-term funding and undermines the infrastructure investments we desperately need.
?? The Consequences Are Immediate
Because of this failure to act on HB 1788, SEPTA will now be forced to move forward with painful service cuts and fare hikes, impacting thousands of riders, including many in our district. These are real people with real needs, and they deserve better.
Pennsylvanians deserve a budget that reflects their priorities, invests in their communities, and meets the moment. HB 1788 was a step in that direction. The Senate must stop playing games and start doing the work.