SEPTA GM Casey stresses urgent need for transit funding fix

Written by jrood

SEPTA General Manager Joseph M. Casey urged Pennsylvania lawmakers to resolve the state's transit funding crisis, highlighting the critical infrastructure repairs that would be left undone without a solution.

Casey testified before the
before the Pennsylvania House Transportation and Policy committees at Saint
Joseph’s University on June 4. The hearing was part of a series lawmakers are
holding throughout the state as transit agencies deal with severe funding
shortages under Act 44.

"Capital investment is
essential to ensure that we can maintain safe, efficient operations, and
provide service that meets the needs of our customers," Casey said.

Insufficient funding from
Act 44 – the state law enacted in 2007 to create a dedicated source for
transportation funding in Pennsylvania – forced SEPTA to cut $110 million from
its Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2011, which begins July 1, 2010. Most of the
22 projects deferred focused on station renovations, facility upgrades and
other long-needed infrastructure improvements. Major initiatives such as New
Payment Technology and the City Hall Station overhaul were also slashed to pare
the bare-bones spending plan down to $300 million.

Transit agencies throughout
Pennsylvania are experiencing similar budget problems related to Act 44.
Continued full funding from Act 44 was dependent on the addition of tolls to
Interstate 80, but the state’s funding proposal for this was rejected by the
Federal Highway Administration.

Casey noted SEPTA’s progress
since Act 44 went into effect and said the Authority has been a "careful
financial steward" by wisely investing and advancing "many
initiatives addressing useful life, state of good repair, vehicle replacement
and system improvements." But, he added: "Without sufficient capital
resources, the Authority will not be able to sustain its current level of
investment in vital transit assets."

"The loss of Act 44
funding will deal a major blow to public transit and highways that will
translate into fewer permanent jobs, and significantly reduced opportunities
for contractors and engineers who support public transit and highway construction
and revitalization initiatives," Casey said. "The Commonwealth cannot
afford to sustain such job losses or reduced capital investment in its vital
transportation infrastructure."

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