Montco Lawmaker Blasts GOP Counterparts on SEPTA Funding

EASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — State Sen. Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery, Caucus Chair) has blasted her GOP counterparts for failing to provide SEPTA enough funding to avoid service cuts in the Philadelphia region.

Collett voted against the PA Senate Republicans’ last-minute transit budget amendment and their proposal to fund the government at 2024-2025 levels despite rising costs for everyday Pennsylvanians.

“For six weeks, our budget has been overdue. Our schools are in limbo. Our hospitals are waiting. Our transit systems are on the brink. All the while, Senate Republicans have refused to negotiate seriously," Collett said in a video released Tuesday evening.

“Their [transit funding] plan relies on one-time gaming revenue and budget transfers instead of establishing permanent funding. It’s like putting a band-aid on a broken leg — a leg they broke in the first place.”

The Pennsylvania House has passed legislation to fund public transit and fix roads and bridges five times since June.

All 23 Senate Democrats stand ready to move their plan forward and protect Pennsylvanians’ ability to travel to work, school, and the doctor — whether they rely on public transit or roadways.

“Gov. Josh Shapiro, House Democrats, my Senate Democratic colleagues, and I remain committed to real solutions. Pennsylvania deserves better than governance by crisis, delivered time and time again by Senate Republicans. We deserve leaders who plan ahead and deliver results.”

Collett represents the 12th Legislative District, which includes portions of eastern Montgomery County and southern Bucks County.

You can watch Senator Collett’s full comments here

The Pennsylvania Senate Tuesday passed an amendment to a House bill that would fund SEPTA in the short-term through the Public Transportation Trust Fund and interactive gaming revenue.

SEPTA's funding deadline is Thursday, and if funds are not secured it will move forward with implementing drastic service cuts on Aug. 24 and increase fares on Sept. 1 due to a major budget shortfall.

Service cuts include ending 32 bus routes, the elimination of five Regional Rail lines: Cynwyd Line, Chestnut Hill West Line, Paoli/Thorndale Line, Trenton Line, Wilmington/Newark Line. These will be cut Jan. 1, 2026.

The cuts will also force a significant reduction in trips on all rail services, an end to all special service including the Sports Express, 18 additional bus route eliminations, and a 9 p.m. curfew for all rail services, all of which would also begin Jan. 1, 2026. Additional cuts would follow in subsequent years.

And, a 21.5 percent fare increase will be implemented on Sept. 1, as will a complete hiring freeze.

The cuts and fare increases were proposed in response to a $213 million budget gap, which stems from a combination of the end of federal COVID relief funding and increases in the day-to-day costs of providing service to customers. SEPTA is also grappling with the impact of inflation on everyday necessities such as fuel, power, and supplies.