By Brian X. McCrone
PHILADELPHIA - The city’s transit agency is set to vote on its
“doomsday” budget today, though SEPTA may be able to throw the brakes on
service cuts and a 24 percent fare hike before the cost-saving measures
are implemented later this year.
Good news in the form of $100 million in state money for SEPTA came out
of Harrisburg yesterday when the Democratic-controlled House of
Representatives approved a $700 million transportation bill that
includes the additional funding.
But the spending plan still has to get through the Republican-controlled
Senate, which is expected to vote on it sometime before Monday.
SEPTA spokesman Jim Whitaker said the doomsday contingency plan will
still be voted on today in case the money is voted down by the Senate.
The SEPTA Board will vote both on a 2008 budget starting July 1 that
raises fares 11 percent and a subsequent 24 percent increase as well as
service cuts and layoffs that would take effect in September — if the
$100 million falls through.
“Plan A goes along with the additional money we would hope is approved,”
Whitaker said. “And Plan B has to be there in case the money doesn’t
come through. Both proposals will still be on the table.”
The plans were vetoed by Philadelphia’s two representatives on the board
last month, but a 75 percent majority vote needed to override the city’s
veto is a virtual lock today.
Public transit advocates were excited about the 105-96 House approval of
the transportation bill yesterday. About $250 million will go to public
transit agencies throughout the state, including the $101 million for SEPTA.
The $700 million bill falls well short of Gov. Ed Rendell’s recent $1
billion proposal and even shorter of his Transportation Funding and
Reform Commission’s recommendation last year for $1.7 billion to fund
highways, bridges and transit.
“Everyone in Harrisburg seems to think that somehow this transit thing
is going to get worked out,” PennEnvironment clean air advocate Nathan
Willcox said yesterday from the Capitol building. “It’s difficult to
imagine the Senate Republicans holding up transit into the summer.”
