Philadelphia Transit Campaign

Philadelphia Transit Campaign

6703 Germantown Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19119 • (267) 295-2040 • info@phillytransit.com • www.phillytransit.com

We created a spark. The legislature caught fire. Can we keep it burning?

Last week over 700 supporters of public transportation from all over the state held an hour long rally in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg. Over two hundred people came from Philadelphia in an effort organized by the Philadelphia Transit Campaign with the support of the Transit Workers Union Local 234, and other community and labor groups. We spoke, we lobbied, and we met with representatives of the Governor and the legislative leaders.

Our government officials are beginning to respond. On Monday Governor Rendell endorsed a bi-partisan legislative proposal put forward State Representative Dwight Evans. It is not all that we need for public transit. It does not provide the long term dedicated funding that is necessary to avoid the yearly crisis faced by SEPTA and every other transit agency in the state. But it will avoid the horrendous cuts and fare increases that will soon be unavoidable without this legislation.

Passage of even this stop-gap measure is uncertain. (See below for details about the political barriers that stand in our way.) We need you to make your voices heard, right now! The key to passage of the bill is the Republican leadership, which has to corral sufficient Republican votes to join the Democrats who support the bill and the Governor, who has to keep the pressure on the both Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly. So contact your own legislator—especially if you live in one of the suburban Philadelphia counties—and also contact: (If you don't know your state legislator, go here to find him or her.

Governor Edward G. Rendell 225 Main Capitol Building Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 (717) 787-2500. FAX: (717) 772-8284 governor@state.pa.us
The Honorable John M. Perzel Speaker of the House of Representatives Main Capitol Building Room 110 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020 (717) 787-2016 FAX: 717-783-7225 jperzel@pahousegop.com	The Honorable Samuel H. Smith Majority Leader Pennsylvania House of Representatives Main Capitol Bldg. Room 110 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020 (717) 787-3845 FAX: 717-787-6564 shsmith@pahousegop.com
The Honorable Robert C. Jubelirer President Pro Tem Pennsylvania Senate Capitol Bldg. Room 292 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3032 (717) 787-5490 FAX: 717-787-9091 rjubelirer@pasen.gov	The Honorable David J. Brightbill Capitol Building Room 350 Senate Post Office Harrisburg, PA 17120-3032 (717) 787-5708 FAX: 717-787-3455 dbrightbill@pasen.gov

The Political Situation for Public Transit

Events are moving quickly so this report may be outdated as soon as you read it. But here is our understanding of where things stand now:

The Dwight Evans bill aims to raise $110 million to make up the shortfall in transit funding for the current fiscal year for SEPTA, the Port Authority in Pittsburgh, and the smaller transit agencies throughout the state. The money would come from an increase in a variety of fees. The driver’s record fee would go up from $5 to $12; the motor vehicle rental fee would increase from $2 to $4; the tax on new tires would increase from $1 to $2; and a new emissions inspection sticker fee of $2 would be instituted.

We have known all along that stop-gap funding would be difficult to enact. The public transit deficits are so large this year—over $100 million— that substantial new funding is necessary just to eliminate them. In addition, it is always difficult to convince Republicans and Democrats from rural parts of the state to support transit funding. That is why the PTC, other community groups, and the labor unions have been supportive of a multi-modal bill that would also increase the gas tax to pay for road and bridge maintenance and construction.

The problem has been that, with the run-up in gas prices since the start of the Iraq war, Governor Rendell and members of the Pennsylvania House and Senate have been reluctant to support an 8 to 12 cent increase in the gas tax.

Our view is that the time has come to enact long term, dedicate funding for public transit. This is likely to be possible only if a multi-modal transit bill is adopted. If it is too difficult to raise gas taxes immediately, we suggest that Governor Rendell and the General Assembly adopt new gas taxes that would gradually go into effect over the next few years as the price at the pump declines. Additional subsidies for public transit beyond that which is required immediately could also go into effect gradually, thereby avoiding continuing transit crises over the next few years.

The Philadelphia Transit Campaign

Whether we get stop-gap or dedicated transit funding this week or next or next spring, the Philadelphia Transit Campaign will continue to fight for expanded and improved public transportation in the Greater Philadelphia Region. We have been growing by leaps and bounds, thanks to your support. Our email list now has over 3000 names on it—we are scuffling to keep our database up to date with the names and addresses we get every week. Our website has been accessed by thousands of people. We have organized three successful rallies; helped create a state wide organization of transit advocates; and are in constant contact with legislators and staff people in Harrisburg.

The more support we have, the more we can do. Please send this email to your friends and ask them to show their support for public transit by signing up on our webpage http://www.phillytransit.com .

Steering Committee
Philadelphia Transit Campaign