Shapiro to propose funding increase in public transit in new budget

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Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Monday that his 2024-25 budget proposal will include his plan for the first increase in the state share of public transit funding in more than a decade.

Shapiro’s proposal will increase the state share of public transit funding by 1.75% – a $282.8 million investment, and nearly $1.5 billion in new state funding over five years, in transit systems that Pennsylvanians rely on in his new budget proposal. 

“Hundreds of thousands of people across our commonwealth rely on public transit every day to commute to work, go to school, and get to where they need to go – and Pennsylvanians deserve clean, safe, cost-effective ways to travel throughout our cities and towns,” Shapiro said in a statement. “Investing in and improving our public transit systems is a commonsense way to create good-paying jobs, spur economic development, and help Pennsylvanians reach their destinations safely.”

Shapiro’s budget will include a significant investment in transit systems to support travel needs and spur economic growth in Pennsylvania. This is a statewide investment benefiting multiple regions.

Shapiro insisted SEPTA address concerns about cleanliness and safety on the system, as part of the discussions around this proposal. The governor has orchestrated conversations between SEPTA and the counties that rely on and benefit from SEPTA service to discuss how they can contribute to the system’s funding needs.

The governor’s proposal aims to deliver the funding needed to avoid immediate service cuts or fare increases on SEPTA. It is also expected to create a more balanced and stable funding structure for SEPTA for the future.

SEPTA CEO and General Manager Leslie S. Richards said Shapiro’s proposal would deliver much needed funding.

“The governor knows how critical public transit is for Southeastern Pennsylvania, and his proposal would deliver the critical funding we need – providing additional support for SEPTA for the first time in over a decade,” said Richards. “In these discussions, the governor has also made clear his expectations that we at SEPTA step up to address our community’s serious concerns about cleanliness and safety. We are committed to addressing these concerns so that all SEPTA riders can feel safe as they travel where they need to go.”