State Representative Dwight Evans announced a
$110 million proposal in mid-November to fund
mass transit for the fiscal year 2005-06. The
$110 million would be raised from increases in
fees for driver's records from $5-$12, motor
vehicle rental fees from $2-$4, surcharges for
the purchase of new tires from $1-$3, and a new
$2 fee for emissions inspections stickers. That
proposal is apparently dead, at least for now.
Beth Williams, press secretary for House Speaker
John Perzel, (Rep., Philadelphia), voiced this
objection regarding Evans' proposal: what do
those who do not ride public transportation get
out of this besides paying higher fees?
There was debate on and off until the Sunday
before Thanksgiving, November 21, when
legislators recessed without making a decision
about mass transit. They have not met since
then. By law, the legislative session ends on
November 30. As of press time on November 29,
legislators had not been called back to
Harrisburg, said Williams.
"Governor [Ed Rendell] has the authority to
use highway funds and the Governor can add
[transit funding] to the state budget," she
said. She added that they are waiting for the
Governor to decide what to do.
Many states use gas tax revenue for roads and
siphon it off to mass transit, which is referred
to as "flexing" funds. But because that will
affect road projects across the state it cannot
be a long-term solution.
Evans said on Monday, November 29 that there
is no movement at all in negotiations, even
though Governor Rendell sent a letter to
legislators asking them to come back to
Harrisburg, something Evans said he supports.
"Everything is up in the air, but we're going
to keep pushing," said Evans. When asked what he
thought of Rendell using "flex funds," he said
that "it's a possibility...it may go in that
direction."
Kate Phillips, press secretary for Gov.
Rendell, said on Monday that he was hoping that
the legislature would return November 30 and
that he had repeatedly encouraged them to finish
the job.
"If [they don't come back], the Governor has
a contingency plan in place," said Phillips.
Phillips would not give details on the plan and
declined to say whether it included using flex
funds, saying "it would all be hypothetical" and
the focus was still on trying to get legislators
to return to Harrisburg.
Local transit activists are disappointed at
the seeming sluggishness of the state government
to respond appropriately to what will amount to
a crisis, but will accept whatever they can get
to avoid the dramatic cuts that transit
agencies, including SEPTA, have said they must
do if they do not get more funding.
"Clearly, if Governor Rendell has no option
but to flex highway funds, he should do that,"
said Peter Javsicas, executive director of
PennTrans (Pennsylvanians for Transportation
Solutions). "But it is not a solution. The
Democrats have a reasonable start in the right
direction and the Republicans have responded by
simply saying no."
Marc Stier, president of West Mt. Airy
Neighbors (WMAN) and a steering committee member
of the Philadelphia Transit Campaign (PTC), said
that they now have to count on Rendell using the
flex funds because it's better than nothing.
In the event that the legislature doesn't
return, said Stier, "We'll be asking people to
contact the governor's office and ask him to use
the flex funds." Then, said Stier, they will
prepare for further activity in the spring, when
the state does its budget, and continue to ask
for dedicated funding for mass transit.
"The governor and the legislature has been
slowing in taking the lead [on mass transit],"
said Stier.