It’s a sad day in Philadelphia as we watch the slow unraveling of our public transit system because of petty politics. It was outrageous to watch the Republican Senate Majority Leader cry, “It doesn’t feel good, does it?”

I wish no harm to anyone who lives in the central or western part of the state. If we need to do something to improve the roads, bridges, and highways across the state, let’s talk. But our buses, trolleys, and trains define the character and practicality of life in this city and the region. Today, most of us barely give it a second thought. But we have to now, because when the roads and highways become more clogged, commutes grow longer, and transportation becomes less productive, we’ll have Senate Republicans to blame.

What’s being lost here is more than transit service; it’s the opportunity to grow our economy more effectively and efficiently. SEPTA’s extensive rail, bus, and trolley network stretches across the Delaware Valley and could transport so many more people — reducing congestion, cutting emissions, and connecting communities — if only we invested in it the way other cities do.

I just returned from two weeks in Helsinki, Finland. There, traffic jams are virtually nonexistent. Despite having less than half Philadelphia’s population (675,000), Helsinki’s downtown is vibrant and accessible, thanks to a first-class public transit system and excellent infrastructure for biking and walking.

Even during off-peak hours, trains run every 8 to 10 minutes. During rush hour, subways arrive every 2.5 minutes. And the Helsinki airport — which serves 16 million passengers a year, half of Philadelphia International’s 32 million — has train service every 10 minutes.

Let’s look at a basic comparison: Helsinki’s metro area is one-quarter the size of Philadelphia’s, and yet their ridership is nearly double. Like us, Finns love their cars. But they don’t like traffic and they enjoy walkable, bikeable places with a transit system that is reliable, frequent, and easy to use. The city is so much more fun and lively without the hostility of traffic.

Statistics tell the story

Population: Philadelphia, 1.5 million; Helsinki, 675,000 (half). Population metro area: Philadelphia, 6 million; Helsinki, 1.5 million (one-quarter). Daily subway riders: Philadelphia, 170,000; Helsinki, 325,000 (nearly double). Daily trolley riders: Philadelphia, 60,000; Helsinki, 150,000 (double). Daily Regional Rail: Philadelphia, 80,000; Helsinki, 200,000 (2.5 times more).

Despite being smaller in every way, Helsinki’s transit system moves significantly more people because they’ve invested in, maintained, and expanded their system as needed and everyone uses it to get around. How can we get there?

I actually agree with State Sen. Joe Pittman on one point: SEPTA does need to change. But meaningful change doesn’t come without resources. If we wanted to build a new car model, we’d need designers, a factory, trained workers, marketers, distributors, and most of all, capital. SEPTA has put forward bold new visions for transit, but without investment capital, these remain just plans on a shelf.

Critics also argue that SEPTA is poorly run. But since the Rendell administration, SEPTA has been required to undergo an annual performance review as part of Act 44, legislation enacted by Republicans. This 96-page report is submitted to PennDOT and publicly available. It details where every dollar comes from and how it is spent, and benchmarks SEPTA’s performance against other transit agencies nationwide. In other words, transparency and accountability are already built into the system.

That doesn’t mean SEPTA is without problems, but many of those stem from years of operating and capital-funding shortfalls, not mismanagement.

SEPTA needs $200 million just to stabilize current service levels. It needs billions more to buy new regional rail and subway cars, modernize the trolley network, and purchase a new generation of cleaner, more efficient buses and rebuild stations.

Is it worth it?

I believe it is. Our roads and highways are not large enough to withstand 275,000 more vehicles daily. Yet our public transit infrastructure, which covers the Delaware Valley, is going to waste because of a political spat. This problem is 40 years in the making. We need to turn the tide and invest in our future now, or we’ll pay billions more for it later. It’s time for Republicans in Harrisburg to stop trying to score political points and do what’s right for the entire Commonwealth by funding SEPTA and mass transit now and investing in our future.

Bob Previdi is policy director of Save the Train at West Mt. Airy Neighbors and a member of the Pennsylvania Transportation Advisory Committee.