Harrisburg, but – – September 8, 2025 – Today Governor Shapiro and Penndot approved the SEPTA application for fleeting operational support using state funds, which are usually reserved for investment expenses that finance the purchase and maintenance of transit vehicles and infrastructure that ensure safety and efficiency.
Democratic Senate leader Jay Costa, on behalf of the Democrats Senate, presents the following statement:
“Democrats from the Senate will praise the governor of Shapiro and secretary Carroll for accepting leadership and making a challenging decision to provide sept with very necessary financing to avoid further reduction of services that we have seen in the last few weeks.
“We, together with the governor and democrats of the house, tried to negotiate a solution to the transit crisis in the last three years, and especially in the last 6 months. Republicans of the Senate are indifferent and even hostile to the needs of our cities.
“The Republicans of the Senate have proven over the past two years that they do not want to agree to a permanent and balanced solution supporting our transit systems throughout the state. The House of Representatives has adopted five plans on a two -sided basis, which in a reasonable situation would meet the needs of our transit systems throughout the country, covering republican and democratic districts.
“So today the governor and Penndot took the last, worst step, which was available and accepted the request of SEPT for access to capital funds, which are to provide a protected and proficient transport service and redirect them to the operational need to restore the transit service on which Philadelphia works. This is not perfect, but it is necessary, and it is necessary, and to block the Shapiro administration.
“We will come back to this again in the near future. This action is a fleeting solution. We hope that we will not come back next year, rejecting the restriction of services and greater pain for citizens. We are devoted to finding a permanent and sustainable source of state support for sept, PRT and all transitional agencies in our 67 counties, which allow people to get to work, at school and maintaining our joint support for people SEPTA, PRT and all transit agencies.
Learn more about the commitment of PA Senate of Democrats in every Pennsylvania HERE.
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The democratic leader after the Senate Jay Costa responds to the announcement of sept financing, calls for permanent sustainable financing of transit in the whole state, the first Democrats in Pennsylvania appeared in the Senate in Pennsylvania.
