November 27, 2024
daynelle@westmorelandchamber
A Long-Term Solution for Public Transit Funding: Avoiding Quick Fixes and Band-Aids
By Dan DeBone, President/CEO – Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce
As the Southeastern Public Transportation Association (SEPTA) recently announced a potential fare increase due to a lack of state funding, it is hard to ignore the familiar pattern that has plagued Pennsylvania's public transportation system for years: short-term solutions, funding crises, and finger-pointing. This time, the frustration comes after the Pennsylvania state legislature wrapped up its fall session without addressing funding measures for public transit. With 27 years in the public transit industry, I can confidently say that another Band-Aid solution is not the answer. While Governor Shapiro deserves credit for averting an immediate crisis in one of the Commonwealth’s major cities, the need for a reliable, comprehensive, and sustainable funding strategy has never been clearer. Such a solution must not only address public transit but also the broader demands of our aging infrastructure, ensuring long-term benefits for all Pennsylvanians. The time for decisive action is now.
The Pennsylvania state legislature has previously addressed funding shortfalls for public transit through measures like Act 44 and Act 89. While valuable during their time, these acts provided much-needed funding for transit agencies and transportation infrastructure across the state. However, these “solutions” were short-lived, with their predictability lasting less than a few decades. Act 44 and Act 89 connected public transit to a broader range of needs, including road and bridge repairs, among other infrastructure projects statewide. This helped maintain a balance across different transportation sectors but also highlighted a key flaw: the reliance on temporary measures and patchwork funding that merely delayed the real work of creating a long-term solution.
Throughout my career in the transit industry, we have often used the phrase, “Crisis Breeds Opportunity.” Sadly, that crisis approach has become the norm. Every time there is a funding crisis, the response is a rushed push to the state legislature to act quickly. This reactionary approach is unsustainable and does not allow for thoughtful, deliberate planning that benefits all stakeholders. What we need is not another stop-gap measure but a long-term, comprehensive funding strategy. This means a dedicated funding source for public transportation that isn’t subject to the whims of the annual budget process or dependent on one-time gap measures. It means funding that grows in alignment with inflation and the rising costs of operating a public transit system. Only by creating such a reliable and growing funding stream can we ensure that transit agencies like SEPTA, Port Authority of Allegheny County (PRT), and rural transit providers across the state can continue to deliver the essential services our communities depend on.
Most importantly, a comprehensive funding solution must also address Pennsylvania’s broader infrastructure needs: state roads and bridges, multi-modal transportation, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, fish and game roads, and dirt/gravel roads, to name a few. These systems are interconnected, and any solution that targets just one sector in isolation will inevitably leave the rest of the system in peril. If we focus solely on providing Band-Aids, we will only continue to kick the can down the road, leaving future generations to deal with the consequences.
Instead of relying on quick fixes or placing blame, we should commend Senator Joe Pittman and many of our state legislators for holding a firm position by advocating for a more thoughtful, long-term approach to funding. Yes, this process may take more time and require additional studies, hearings, and input from diverse stakeholders across the state, but it is the only way to craft a long-term solution that will serve everyone’s needs—now and in the future.
The Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce strongly supports long-term, comprehensive funding for Pennsylvania’s transportation needs. This is not just about funding buses and trains or one part of the state—it’s about ensuring that our entire transportation network—roads, bridges, transit systems, and more—has the resources it needs to grow and thrive in the decades to come.
The future of Pennsylvania depends on it.