HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania House on Monday advanced legislation aimed at securing hundreds of millions of dollars for public transit systems statewide and funding critical road and bridge repairs, as looming deadlines threaten major service cuts.
House Bill 1788, sponsored by Rep. Sean Dougherty, D-Phila., would increase the state’s Sales and Use Tax allocation to the Public Transportation Trust Fund from 4.4% to 6.15%. The measure is expected to generate about $292.5 million annually for transit agencies across the commonwealth. It also authorizes $325 million in borrowing through the Commonwealth Financing Authority to support PennDOT’s infrastructure maintenance.
The bill includes new oversight and accountability provisions for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and Pittsburgh Regional Transit, addressing Senate Republican demands. Both agencies have agreed to implement enhanced safety measures and stiffen penalties for fare evasion.
Supporters warn that without swift Senate action, SEPTA will begin reducing service on August 24, with fare hikes set for September. The agency has said state funding must be secured by August 14 to avert the cuts.
“This bill has everything that Senate Republicans have been demanding for them to move transit funding,” said Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., chair of the House Transportation Committee. “This isn’t about dollars and cents — it’s about the hardworking people of Pennsylvania … people’s livelihoods are at stake.”
House Democrats note this is the fifth time in recent years the chamber has passed a comprehensive transit funding bill without raising taxes, each time including reforms sought by Senate Republicans.
Dougherty emphasized the urgency, warning that service reductions would “hurt real people, destroy jobs and hurt businesses of every size … in communities across all 67 counties.”
The Senate has yet to schedule a vote.
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