Participants from poviats in the entire community gathered in the Capitol to gather and divide personal testimonies about the importance of public transport for their lives and their community, raising their votes in United Call for the governor and the General Assembly to fully financed transit in every Faulty in PA.
Harrisburg, then – June 4, 2025 – Today, when the General Assembly returned to the session this week in the period preceding the state budget in 2025–2026, hundreds of transit riders, supporters, work leaders and enterprises convened in a state capitol to collect full transit financing throughout Pennsylvania.
The years of underfunding by the community of nations have caused stern financing shortages of transit agencies throughout Pennsylvania, and many of them may be forced to implement stern cuts of services and steep hiking if the general assembly does not work.
Today’s rally was organized by Transit for All Pa!The National Coalition of transit riders, transit employees and organizations supporting transit and companies working on the extension of transit systems in Pennsylvania to develop the Pennsylvania economy and connect residents with work, healthcare and necessary needs.
“Transit touches us all. Regardless of whether moving in the main events in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, heading at Johnstown, getting to the class in State College, or visiting our families in Scranton, we all deserve to be a dignified, reliable transport. We need full financing for all Pennsylania.” said Connor Deschemaker, State Manager of the Transit campaign for all PA!.
The participants of the rally came from eight different poviats, some of which travel from day to day to take part. Their testimonies emphasized how investments in transit are collected to take advantage of every corner of the community of nations, expanding mobility options for disabled people, seniors and employees.
“Available, joint public rides in York connect me with my favorite local destinations and meeting places in the community. It connects me with my volunteer capabilities, and soon with my workforce’s possibilities” Preston Gaylor, a member of the Coalition of Access to Public Transport, said. “Although me and others in my disabled community, our lives still have significance and goal, and we deserve access to all places we have to go. We call on legislators and governor to fully finance transit for all disabled residents here in PA!”
“As a partner of human service providers in Lancaster, we see the importance of public transport for our seniors, employees to work, families for food banks or grocery stores, and providing our neighbors with access to the needs of mental health.” said Dave Koser, director of Lancaster County Community Foundation programs (Membership of transit resources to gain access to the Care Coalition).
While public transit is most evident in the largest cities in Pennsylvania, the transit service is necessary and available in every Pennsylvania.
“Lehigh Valley is the third largest community in Pennsylvania with two poviats and over 700,000 inhabitants” said Scott Slingerland, Cat-Calition executive director on appropriate transport. “Every year 4 045 834 Transit rides in the Lehigh Valley depend on this financing. We need your support on the senators of our Boscol, Coleman and Miller region!”
“Transit workers represented by a combined transit union transfer millions of riders throughout the state, through 18 inhabitants throughout the community” Told Lionel Randolph, president of Harrisburg Atu Local 1436 and legal director of the joint Council of the PA PA Conference. “Our passengers include newborns after seniors, and we all – poviat and transit employees – are necessary. We call on our legislators in the entire state of transit financing!”
“Like thousands of students in Philly, I get about 40 minutes with three different routes to get the best available education” – said Jaylah Fitzgerald, a rising senior at the Academy in Palumbo, Philadelphiawho spoke on behalf of tens of thousands of students throughout the city who rely on transit to get to school. “Sept financing finances our future.”
Many state legislators have signed the support of Transit for the entire PA legislative platform! Expressing your involvement in dedicated financing capable of restoring and stabilizing transit throughout the community. Legislators participating and supporting today’s rally were concluded:
Senator of State Nikil Saval (D-D-Liladelphia), chairman of the Senate delegation from Philadelphia:“Millions of Pennsylvanians rely on public transport, to travel to work, schools, healthcare, necessary services and loved ones – and then at home again. The state budget is to take place on June 30, and we need a governor and general meeting to fully finance transit throughout our community.
Representative of the state of Morgan Cephas (D-Filadelphia), chairman of the delegation Philadelphia House: “Every time we organize a rally for mass transit in capitol, we fill the space with riders, fans and legislators standing to support transit financing, because it is so critical for so many communities. Pennsylvania stops when the transit stops. in rural areas in rural areas.
Representative of the state of Aerion Abney (D-Allegheny), chairman of the Allegheny Detachable Delegation at home: “Mass transport systems do not serve riders based on their political connections, and therefore the financing of mass transit systems should not become a pawn for the political party.”
State Senator Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny): Regardless of whether you live in Pittsburgh, Natronie Heights or Altoo, we need a nationwide transit system that attracts people where they should. I am proud that I can sponsor transit for all PA proposals, which just did it – which means and properly finance public transport systems for all Pennsylvania, urban, suburban and rural.
Representative of the state Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny): “Public transport is a life line for our communities. In combination with the governor’s proposal, the legislative package, which I presented with the representative of Abney at home, will provide the necessary financing to maintain our community, combining people to work, school and entertainment while maintaining fewer cars.
A representative of the state Sean Dougherta (D-philadelphia): “If we do not finance sept now, we will all polish our horns in traffic on 95, 76 and on the boulevard. Our voices can be louder than our corners. We need to finance septa for the community of nations as a whole. Every time we touch this card, the money helps roads and bridges in all 67 third.”
A representative of the state of Joshua Siegel (D-Lehigh): “Public transport is a public good, it is more than buses and trains, it is a line of life for our seniors, veterans and families that drives our economy, connects people with the services we need and serves our communities from Altoon to Allentown, Rural and City.”
Representative of the State Smith-Wade-El (D-LANCASTER): “At Lancaster, we have already started to see the impact of underfunded transit from wage increases to reduce services – but when we talk about financing public transport, it is more than the number of buses or trains: we talk about maintaining the ability of our seniors to stay in the community, providing access to services for our turned off neighbors, and we provide employees with families with families with unexpectedly, and only one car can participate in this. Car in one car.
Representative of State Paul Takac (D-Centre): “Public transit is an indispensable line of life for millions of people in all 67 poviats in Pennsylvania, but it is chronically and seriously underfunded. That’s why I support the proposed Governor of Shapiro by $ 292 million to finance public transport to ensure that these important public services will operate on rural, urban and suburban communities.”
State representative of Ben Waxman (D-D-Miladelphia): “Public transit is not a luxury; it is a necessary service. These cuts threaten thousands of jobs and billions of business activities. We now need a constant solution to financing transit.”
After a rally, the participants moved to the Capitol to meet their representatives and a supporter of transit financing.
The full video from today’s rally is available on demand.
Hundreds of transit riders, supporters, work leaders and companies gathered in the Capitol to call dedicated state financing in order to restore and stabilize transit in Pa, the first in the Senate of Democrats in Pennsylvania appeared.
