Signs and songs completed personal testimonies, because almost a hundred participants packed the pavement in front of the headquarters of the transit agency, calling on the governor and the General Assembly to fully finance SEPT and Transit of the entire community of nations to prevent destructive cuts of services.
Philadelphia, PA – May 19, 2025 – The legislators are from Philadelphia and the surrounding poviats today gathered outside the seat of the sept in the city center, when the transit agency began a series of public interrogations on the proposed budget for 2025–2026, including grave cuts of services and steep wandering, which will be forced to implement without key state financing.
The announcement of a sept about the financial crisis last month occurs after years of chronic underfunding of sept and transport authorities throughout the community. Pennsylvania spends less on a transit resident than any other state in the northeast with a immense transit system.
“Throughout Pennsylvania, traditional transport modes – our buses, trains, prams and subway played a key role in building our cities. To a greater extent of the Philadelphia region, only 5% of the land area in Pennsylvania, but we produce 41% of its economic activity.” Senator of State Nikil Saval said (D – Philadelphia), who chaired the delegation of the Senate of the Senate of Pa and acts as a democratic chairman of the Municipal Committee and Senate’s housing. “If Septa is forced to cut services, we are dealing with a loss of almost 80,000 jobs and $ 6 billion in remuneration, while abunders may lose over $ 11 billion in tax revenues. We are united in our demands because we know that they invest in septa, invest in us septa.
“Investing in Septa is an investment in a key economic development engine”, ” Mentioned representative of the Morgan Cephas (D – Philadelphia), who chaired the PA House delegation in Philadelphia. “Reliable public transport attracts companies, creates jobs and stimulates local economies. The financed public transport system supported the parade of the Philadelphia Eagles championships and is needed for the 250th anniversary of the National Bill’s celebration in 2026. The current proposal, built into the summary of the Shapiro governor at 2025–2026, and accounts of 1364 would enhance the sales and operate public transport by 1.75% and add 282 million dollars to the Public Transport Fund to support the operations of transit agency in the whole condition without raising taxes in septa, and without legislative activities in Harrisburg, cutting services and tariff’s wanderings went to our economy. “
Almost one hundred riders, supporters and community leaders participated in the Randa of today’s rally. The speakers took care of the destructive influence of the proposed cuts of services on their lives, their families and their community.
Transit for All Pa, a coalition of selected officials, trade unions from the entire community of nations and dozens of social organizations and companies, helped to coordinate today’s rally.
“Transit is an indispensable service for all 67 poviats in Pennsylvania. But nowhere is it literally true than in the Septa region” said Connor Deschemaker, a state manager of a transit campaign for all PA. “When I-95 fell, we acted with a coordinated, concentrated determination. Septa serves four times more people each day, so we must act with an accompanying and greater urgent need to win a dedicated, long-term solution.”
Dr. Spenser ChenA resident of a doctor with double training in the field of internal medicine and pediatrics at the Pennsylvania University Hospital and the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, he talked about public transport due to public health.
“Every day my colleagues and I – doctors, nurses, community service employees and all employees who make our hospitals work – repairing in sept to appear and deal with our communities” Chen said. “From early mornings to peak hour, to the middle of the night, we travel through the city to look after our other Philadelphi in outpatient clinics, social hospitals and our districts. Septa leads us to work and return home. We rely on sept to look after our communities, and we also know that our communities need septa for thrive.”
Many members of PA House and the South Senate South -East Delegations have succeeded via the Paoli/Thorndale Septa line, which is to be eliminated in January 2026 without financing, along with four additional regional railway line and 50 bus routes.
“We cannot abandon one of the largest economic assets in our state” Senator Tim Kearney said(Delaware), which chaired the delegation of the Senate Senate Senate. “We are at a critical moment throughout the country because changes in the way of life and work transform our real estate and transport systems.”
Coming from the northern part of the Philadelphia region, the members of Save the Train Coalition went to today’s rally via the Chestnut Hill East line, as well as the Chestnut Hill West line – of which the latter is intended to eliminate.
“Governor Shapiro and state leaders must avoid this crisis and close the budget gap of SEPTA, but they have to do much more” said Bob Previdi, Policy Director Save The Train. “Our leaders must adopt a bold, future investment strategy for public transport under a comprehensive nationwide transport plan, which finances roads, bridges, highways, airports and sea ports to support the growing economy. We want septa not only survive, but to expand.”
PHILADELPHIA City Council Members of the Kenyatta Johnson City Councilwhich represents the second district of the Philadelphia Council and acts as the chairman of the Council, and Nicolas O’Rourkewho serves as a immense member of the city council, took part in the rally and spoke about the essential role of Septa in satisfying the needs of people in the entire region.
“Septa and Mass Transit as a whole are the spine of Philadelphia and the entire region. It leads our children to school, our seniors to the doctor and our employees to work. Without septa, this city does not move and without proper financing of the SEPTA state cannot survive” Johnson said. “A deficit of $ 213 million SEPTA facial for the coming financial year threatens the catastrophic cuts of services, tariff increases and stations closures that would devastate working families and stop the development of our city. We call on the general assembly to go through the transit financing plan proposed by Shapiro’s governor.”
“Regardless of whether it reaches the town hall, corner store, church or club, septa is a great corrector of our city and this region” O’Rourke said. “In a city divided by breed and wealth, like ours, septa is one of the few public goods that can still lead us all to the same place, in the same vehicle.”
Senator of State Christine TartaglioneIN Representative of the state of Joe HohensteinAND A representative of the state Sean Dougherty (All D – Philadelphia) represent districts in the north -eastern Philadelphia, which are facing the prospect of losing key transit services by ending the Trenton line and several integral bus routes. The legislators dealt with an urgent need to act on behalf of the SEPTA -dependent communities.
“In this city, septa is a way we live. When we hear about the intersection of 50 bus routes, closing railway lines, raising tariffs and closing stations, we talk about cutting off people from their lives” Tartaglione said. “The general assembly must work now because the cost of doing nothing is much higher than the cost of doing the right thing.”
“SEPTA moves over 750,000 people every day throughout our region, and the economic impact is felt throughout the community of Pennsylvania” – said Hohenstein. “Our children, seniors, members of the disability community and neighbors throughout the region depend on the Sept to take them to school, work, medical visits, sporting events and much more. Closing valuable transit infrastructure in any nature is not an option, and legislation must act to maintain our people and the economy.”
“If we do not finance sept now, we will all polish our horns in traffic on 95, 76 and on the boulevard” Dugherty said. “Our voices can be louder than our corners. We need to finance Sept and now we must finance it, not only for the city and the Filadelphia Filadelphia, but also for the community as a whole. Every time we touch this card, money helps support roads and bridges in all 67 poviats.”
After a rally, many participants gathered at the SEPTA headquarters to transfer their testimony to the board of SEPTA.
The full recording of today’s event is available Salador Saval’s website.
