By Jack Tomczuk
SEPTA riders have experienced a multitude of crises this year, from service cuts to severe Regional Rail disruptions.
On Thursday evening, two of Philadelphia’s more progressive politicians – City Council member Nicolas O’Rourke and state Sen. Nikil Saval – and the advocacy group Transit Forward Philadelphia are hosting a town hall to discuss all of it.
Members of the public are invited to attend the event, which will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Friends Center, 1501 Cherry St. in Center City. The elected officials will provide their perspectives, and residents will have the opportunity to share their thoughts, organizers said.
“This year alone, tens of thousands of Zero Fare users saw their access come under threat, state funding for SEPTA never arrived, and riders had to deal with service disruptions and equipment failures,” O’Rourke said in a statement to Metro. “But these challenges are only reason to fight harder for the system Philly deserves, and I’m excited to share how the proposed Transit Access Fund is part of that effort.”
O’Rourke has been a prominent backer of the city’s Zero Fare initiative, which provides SEPTA cards to thousands of low-income Philadelphians. He has proposed a charter change that would mandate that a percentage of city spending goes toward a transit access fund, ensuring the program is not scrapped as part of the municipal budget process.
Saval was among the most vocal legislators in Harrisburg advocating for a transit funding solution. SEPTA ultimately received state approval to pull from its capital allocation to cover its operating budget shortfall for two years.
No additional dollars were incorporated into the state budget, signed last week by Gov. Josh Shapiro. The outcome disappointed transit advocates, who will have an opportunity Thursday to “reflect, regroup, and reorganize,” O’Rourke’s office said.
“When SEPTA first announced that the lack of state funding would force the agency to make devastating service cuts, Philadelphians moved into action and built a transit movement unlike any seen in our city’s recent history,” Saval remarked.
“The political will to ensure mobility for all of us will come from the ground up. We must continue to build this power, right now, together and for the long haul.”
Those interested in the town hall can learn more or RSVP at bit.ly/PHLTransitTownhall.