November 25, 2004
For SEPTA, it’s a rocky road
By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer
SEPTA’s board
of directors will meet in a week to determine what steps it needs to take to
erase a $62 million budget deficit.The transit authority was hoping that the
Pennsylvania Legislature would pass a bill last weekend providing funding to
close the gap.
Instead, the legislature adjourned Sunday without voting on transit funding packages for Philadelphia-area SEPTA and Pittsburgh’s Port Authority. Lawmakers did pass $6 million for the state’s smaller transit agencies.
As a result, SEPTA is threatening to lay off 1,400 employees, raise fares and end weekend service. Meanwhile, Gov. Ed Rendell is hoping the legislature returns to Harrisburg to vote on transit funding before Tuesday, when the state constitution mandates that the session end.
Pennsylvania House Speaker John Perzel (R-172nd dist.) spoke on Monday with Sen. Robert Jubelirer, president pro tempore of the Senate, about possibly returning to the Capitol. "The governor can call a special session, too," he noted. Kate Philips, Rendell’s press secretary, said it’s too hypothetical to consider a special session. For now, the administration is hoping Perzel and Jubelirer continue their dialogue about returning to session.
"It’s encouraging," she
said.
SEPTA was hoping for a dedicated source of funding, and several area lawmakers made proposals to the transit agency’s liking.Rep. John Taylor (R-177th dist.) proposed dedicating 3.2 percent of the sales tax to transit.Rep. Mike McGeehan (D-173rd dist.) called for higher fees on new tires, from $1 to $3, and car rentals, from $2 to $4. He said that’s preferable to increasing the gasoline tax.
Rep. Dwight Evans (D-203rd dist.), minority-party chairman of the Appropriations Committee, argued for raising the fee to obtain one’s driving record from $5 to $12 and imposing a $2 fee on emissions-inspection stickers.
One problem is that legislators in rural
districts — where there is little or no public transportation — did not want to
vote for increased taxes with nothing in return for their constituents. They’d
likely settle for money for road and bridge construction and
maintenance.
There are just 26 legislators from Philadelphia and 22 from Allegheny County. It takes 102 votes to pass a measure in the 203-member House. Republicans are asking Rendell to close SEPTA’s budget gap by using $54 million in available federal transportation dollars. The GOP promises a more permanent solution in the next state budget.
The governor, though, wants to
use the federal money to build and maintain roads.
"That would be an absolute
last resort for the governor," Philips said of using federal money for mass
transit.
SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney is holding out hope that the governor will use the federal money for mass transit. SEPTA would likely receive a large portion of the $54 million. Still, that wouldn’t erase the authority’s budget deficit. Maloney indicated that SEPTA would use the funding to maintain service. He said it’s possible the agency could keep fares, service and staffing at current levels.
"It doesn’t look good, but nothing’s inevitable," Maloney said.
Perzel blamed Rendell for not leading on the issue, only supporting Evans’ bill in the final days of negotiations.
If SEPTA does not receive the funding it deems necessary, it would raise rates on Jan. 1. The $2 base rate would go to $2.50. Tokens would go up in price from $1.30 to $1.70. Weekly passes would cost $23.25, up from the current $18.75. The layoffs would take effect in late January, because SEPTA’s contract with the Transport Workers Union Local 234 requires 60 days notice. The end of weekend service would affect 300,000 commuters.
On Friday, as negotiations continued, eight members of the Philadelphia Transit Campaign held a protest outside Perzel’s district office at 7518 Frankford Ave. Holding signs such as "Invest in Transit," they encouraged bus drivers and other motorists to honk in support. The group supports additional funding for SEPTA because of the service it provides students, the poor and the elderly. In addition, it contends that the roads will be crowded with cars if SEPTA raises rates and cuts service.
Marc Stier, a Mount Airy resident and member of the organization’s steering committee, called the legislature "irresponsible" for leaving Harrisburg without a permanent or stop-gap solution to the transit crisis. He blamed Republican leadership in the House and Senate.
"I am
especially disappointed with Speaker of the House John Perzel, who is from
Philadelphia and understands the importance of public transit to this region,"
he said. Stier said Perzel’s office indicated to his group that Perzel would
support new taxes for public transit if Rendell took the lead in calling for
them.
The governor, along with Evans, pushed such a package.
"But the so-called second-most powerful person in Harrisburg — Speaker Perzel — has disappeared from view," Stier said. "He will have to explain to his constituents why he has not used his power to save SEPTA from devastating service reductions and fare increases."
Perzel said it’s Rendell who should release the federal
funds to SEPTA until the legislature finds a long-term solution to transit
woes. "We’re going to address mass transit sooner or later," he said.
The
speaker promised to complete a performance audit of SEPTA after hearing from the
TWU that many riders don’t pay their fares.
One possibility is legislation giving drivers power to request payments from those who refuse to pay. The riders who don’t pay would be subject to arrest.
"It’s nice to say give them
more money," Perzel said of SEPTA, "but you don’t just throw money at a problem
if you don’t know the extent of the problem." ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be
reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com