Regular readers of this newsletter are well aware of the financial distress that the coronavirus pandemic has heaped upon Pennsylvania’s public transportation agencies.

Pennsylvania’s transportation agencies are not alone. This week, nine transit agencies, including SEPTA, held a video conference to compare notes and ask for immediate federal help.

In addition to SEPTA, participants were agencies from New York, New Orleans, Denver, Indianapolis, Cleveland, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Miami.

Most, if not all, of the agencies are staring at layoffs and a stunted economic recovery. Once routes and services are suspended, bringing them back becomes much more difficult.

As transportation advocates, we recognize that public transportation
plays an essential role in our multimodal transportation system. Let’s hope our friends in public transit get the help they need before drastic cuts occur.

TRANSPORTATION ISSUE UPDATE