Pennsylvania Advocates Push for Transit Funding to Prevent Cuts and Fare Hikes
Advocates across Pennsylvania are pushing for increased funding to support transit systems, aiming to prevent service cuts and fare hikes, particularly for SEPTA. The Week Without Driving campaign, which went national this year, has brought attention to the challenges faced by non-drivers.
The campaign, coordinated by Titania Markland of the Clean Air Council in Philadelphia, saw participation from at least one city or town in every U.S. state. This comes amidst a state budget impasse, leading to SEPTA fare increases and reduced services. Chris Gale, executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, stressed the importance of investing in public transit and infrastructure.
JJ Tiziou, founder of Walk Around Philadelphia, argued that such investments have exponential benefits for the region. Alan Fisher's op-ed in The Philadelphia Inquirer echoed this sentiment, noting that SEPTA is cost-effective compared to peer cities and could deliver better results with more spending. The event was hosted by Transit Forward Philly, a coalition of local advocacy groups.
The Week Without Driving campaign has highlighted the need for increased funding for public transit systems in Pennsylvania. Advocates aim to replace capital assistance used by SEPTA to avert cuts and fare hikes, with about one-third of the U.S. population not relying on driving as their main form of transportation.
