The Triangle

Issue date: 1/7/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Karen Maziarz The SEPTA Green Line station located at 33rd Street as it stands Jan. 6. Trollys leaving from this station will not have a reduced service or increased rates at least until Feb. 27.

The Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will not be increasing rates or cutting service at least until Feb. 27.

The SEPTA board voted to delay the implementation of its plan due to Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and the General Assembly's ongoing efforts to address the funding issue Dec. 30, according to a SEPTA press release. The Board voted 13-0, with one abstention and one member absent, to delay the plan. The Board also voted 14-0 for the Board to delay or eliminate the implementation of either all or part of the Operating Budget deficit closure strategies provided that additional funding is provided.

House Majority Leader Samuel Smith (R., Jefferson) claimed that the House Republicans still need to be convinced and must have more information as to why the money is needed and how SEPTA reached to this point. Legislators feel that the extra money needed for the transit system does not benefit the rural districts.

SEPTA plans to host public hearings the week of Jan. 24 before implementing the fare increases which would start on Mar. 6.

Rendell offered $13 million in stopgap state aid-much of it financed by postponing local road projects. Rendell called on the state legislature to work on a solution to the problem at a special session which begins Jan. 17.

In November, Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila) constructed a plan to raise $110 million annually for transit from higher motor-vehicle fees and Rendell favors it. Evans strongly suggests the General Assembly to accept his plan with a provision that the new fees expire after the 2006 elections and thus would have lawmakers to face one SEPTA-related tax increase before they run again for office.

In a Dec. 21 SEPTA press release SEPTA, Board and General Manager Faye Moore recognized Governor Rendell's effort to fix the mass transit problem. "The Governor's proposal to release the $18.8 million in funds for transit and his announcement that SEPTA would receive $13 million in subsidy is an important first step towards finding a short term resolution for our Fiscal Year 2005 Operating Budget deficit."

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