Shapiro Flexes Federal Funds to Save SEPTA; Road and Bridge Projects at Risk  

On Friday, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that he is diverting more than $150 million in federal highway funding to provide a one-time contribution into the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), which serves five counties in the Philadelphia area. The flex will delay a planned 21% fare increase for SEPTA customers that was expected to take effect January 1, 2025, and may delay major service cuts. 

The funding will be flexed from existing approved projects not yet under construction or put out to bid, but it is unclear which projects will be delayed due to the flexing of the funds or where these now unfunded projects are located.  

Senate Republicans expressed concerns over the move and the impact on planned projects. Senate leadership has insisted that any increases to mass transit be matched by new funding for road and bridge projects. The 2024-2025 commonwealth budget included an additional $80.5 million for SEPTA and other transit agencies, matched with $80.5 million in multimodal funding for road and bridge projects.  

Township officials should expect transportation funding discussions to heat up in Harrisburg next year as mass transit will continue to ask for additional funding or face fare increases and service cuts. Local government is a key partner in maintaining our interconnected transportation system with roads and bridges and must be included in any transportation funding discussions. A long-term comprehensive transportation funding solution is needed, as we face a future of declining fuel consumption due to increased fuel efficiency and alternate fuel vehicles.