Resolution 241120

..Title Thanking Governor Josh Shapiro for flexing $153 million in federal highway funds to SEPTA. ..Body WHEREAS, In July 2024, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a nearly $50 billion budget that failed to secure stopgap funding for SEPTA, which faced a $240 million fiscal cliff due to federal COVID relief funds exhausting in April 2024; and WHEREAS, State lawmakers did not identify a funding solution for state transportation funding in Fall 2024, leading local advocates to call on Governor Josh Shapiro to use his authority to flex federal highway dollars to SEPTA to keep it financially stable and stave off severe service cuts and fare hikes; and WHEREAS, On November 22, 2024, Governor Shapiro, reminiscent of his actions to rebuild a collapsed portion of I-95 in Northeast Philadelphia in 2023, declared at a speech in Philadelphia that he was redirecting $153 million in federal highway funds to SEPTA; and WHEREAS, This decision ensures that SEPTA will not have to resort to hiking fares by even more than the 7.5 percent fare hike slated for December 1 while instituting severe cuts in service, and gives Governor Shapiro and the Pennsylvania General Assembly time to work towards a permanent funding solution for SEPTA in the coming legislative session; and WHEREAS, Philadelphians depend on public transportation to get around, commute to work, shop for groceries, attend medical appointments, and more. At 70.5 percent vehicle ownership and falling, Philadelphia has the fifth lowest rate of car ownership among major U.S. cities, trailing only New York, Washington D.C., Boston, and San Francisco. It is imperative that the state focus on securing stable funding sources for the transportation system serving the heartbeat of its economic engine in the Southeastern part of the Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, A safe, clean, accessible, and reliable public transportation system is crucial to the performance of Philadelphia's economy, and serves as the primary mode of transportation for many Philadelphians. The Governor of Pennsylvania should be commended for taking this critical step to ensure SEPTA receives the funding it needs to operate at its current level of service; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby thanks Governor Josh Shapiro for flexing $153 million in federal highway funds to SEPTA FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Office of Governor Josh Shapiro as evidence of the true and sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body. ..End