At the Oct. 1 Senate Transportation Committee hearing, SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards warned that without immediate funding from Harrisburg, the transit agency would face "devastating" measures in January: a 20% cut in services and a 30% fare increase. She stated, "I cannot say in more powerful terms that this is the moment. We need SEPTA funding ... the health of SEPTA is the health of the region."

This impending crisis is unacceptable. Gov. Josh Shapiro and state Democrats made a down payment in June that temporarily staved off cuts, but negotiations with Republicans have stalled, leaving us without a clear solution. At the House and Senate Transportation Committee hearings we attended, aside from the Philadelphia representatives, we felt no sense of urgency coming from legislators. We are left wondering, who will step up and make this happen?

We are calling on Shapiro, Mayor Cherelle Parker and key stakeholders across the city and state to actively engage in negotiations to protect SEPTA and public transit throughout the commonwealth during this brief legislative session. Otherwise, we are sending public transit into a death spiral just as Philadelphia prepares to be on the world stage in 2026 when millions will visit or tune in for the FIFA World Cup, Major League Baseball All-Star Game and our nation's 250th birthday celebration. Most importantly, it's about the now, as Richards said: "It's not just that people can't ride, people can't live their lives."

At the recent hearing, Senate Transportation Committee Chair Sen. Wayne Langerholc acknowledged the importance of public transit but expressed concerns about declining ridership and safety. While Richards provided answers, they failed to satisfy the chairman.

One striking fact Richards shared during the hearing was that one SEPTA subway line carries more passengers daily than Interstate 95 through Philadelphia. This comparison highlights the need for comprehensive investment in our transportation infrastructure — roads, highways, bridges and public transit should be viewed as part of an integrated system, rather than isolated components. If ridership is down on SEPTA, we should view this as an opportunity to attract more commuters to public transit.

How can we maximize the existing SEPTA system to prevent the need for widening I-95 in Philadelphia? The governor acted swiftly during the I-95 collapse; now, we need him to leverage SEPTA's untapped potential and honor his promise to fully fund public transit.

SEPTA isn't alone in facing ridership losses; many transit agencies nationwide saw a 20-30% decline during the pandemic. As of August, SEPTA's ridership stood at 77% of pre-pandemic levels, while Washington, D.C.'s Metro rebounded to 83% by expanding service hours and focusing on nontraditional commuting times. SEPTA has similar plans to rebuild ridership and adapt to the region's evolving needs, but these plans require significantly more financial assistance from the state.

Before the pandemic, the Regional Rail system served about 125,000 riders daily; today, that number has fallen to under 80,000. The Broad Street and Market-Frankford Lines, which carried 300,000 daily riders (pre-COVID), are now down to 200,000. There is ample room for growth.

At a previous House Transportation Committee hearing, SEPTA Board Chairman Ken Lawrence emphasized that major cuts would jeopardize the economic viability of the city, region and state. The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Chamber have both advocated for increased transit funding, while other significant business and university leaders have remained silent. Their leadership along with our elected officials is essential.

We need a coordinated plan to redefine success in a post-COVID world. Here's our blueprint:

• Commit to a Future-Focused Funding Plan: Prevent service cuts now and work toward modernizing the system, ensuring reliable and frequent service for all SEPTA riders as we approach 2026 and beyond.
• Increase Local Funding: Philadelphia and the counties served by SEPTA must be allowed by Harrisburg to tax themselves so we can invest more in this vital service. Pennsylvania is losing federal funds to other states by not providing local match dollars.
• Enhance the Riding Experience: We must create a more welcoming environment for residents and visitors. For example, the City Hall-Suburban Station complex urgently needs an overhaul; its current state — marked by dingy storefronts and poor signage — deters commuters and visitors alike. Even temporary improvements (get the Mural Arts Program and students painting 1776-themed artwork on the walls) could help boost ridership and present our best face in 2026.
• Strengthen SEPTA's Outreach Programs: The city and Commonwealth must bolster SEPTA's outreach efforts to people who are homeless and those in distress. While crime has decreased by 37% since January, the perception of safety remains a barrier to ridership recovery. SEPTA is not a social service agency and will require additional support from the city and state to assist those in distress on a 24/7 basis.
• The Save the Train Coalition believes that public transit is a crucial part of Pennsylvania's multimodal transportation network. Despite the pandemic's challenges, we must not abandon SEPTA. Instead, we need to double down on understanding its challenges, identifying solutions and positioning the system for our future success.

Cities like Paris and Los Angeles have leveraged the Olympic and World Cup events to promote ambitious transit visions. Where is ours? We stand at a "use it or lose it" moment for SEPTA. It's time for our politicians and business leaders to step up and secure the future of mass transit by finding the funding needed to ensure success.

‘Save the Train’ is a coalition of NW Philadelphia organizations and institutions fighting to support and preserve public transit.