The wheels on the bus go ‘round and ‘round all through the town. 🚍 But what happens when there’s not enough money to keep things running? 🤔
SEPTA, PA’s largest public transit authority, recently got a pretty big bailout, thanks to Gov. Shapiro’s decision to redirect money in their direction. We’ve got all the details right here. 👇
Here’s Five Fast Facts on PA’s decision to flip the funds:
- 🔁 Flip the Switch - Josh Shapiro saved SEPTA’s butt by funneling them $153 million from PA’s Department of Transit. The funds, originally dedicated to federal highways, allowed SEPTA to pull the plug on fare increases that would have placed a burden on low-income, disadvantaged communities.
- 💰 Funder Down Under - Shapiro was allowed to redirect funds thanks to something called “flex funding.” This allows states to transfer money among nine different programs that receive guaranteed federal funding. Through flex funding, money transfers can’t exceed 50% of a program’s total budget. They also have to meet federal guidelines and go through an approval process.
- 💵 Straight Flexin’ - Flex funding kind of has a bad rep. In the past, it was used to take money away from greener modes of transportation in support of drivers. It’s also typically used in emergencies instead of a real plan to make improvements. Shapiro says the latest transfer of funds was a one-time thing, but they’re looking to make room in the budget to make public transportation better.
- 🚌 More, More, More - How does either side of the aisle feel about PA’s transportation system? State Democrats want to keep public transit top of mind for next session. They’re looking to pass a bigger budget package on transportation funding that would include improvements to ports, roads, bridges, and mass transit.
- 🛑 Not So Fast - Republicans say the current SEPTA mess is because the Shapiro administration made funding for education a priority over public transportation. They’ll likely be super critical of any future funding for transportation included in the next round of budget plans.
🔥Bottom line: While we’re on the topic of transportation, it doesn’t look like electric vehicles are going anywhere anytime soon. And that’s not just because drivers can’t find a charging station! Check out this article where we talk shop about EV subsidies and who really benefits.
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