Dear Representatives,

I am writing to urgently request your support for sustainable, long-term funding for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). As a critical economic engine for the Commonwealth, SEPTA's stability directly impacts the prosperity of all Pennsylvanians. Without immediate action, devastating service cuts and fare hikes will irreversibly harm our economy, tax base, and quality of life.

Southeastern Pennsylvania generates 41% of the Commonwealth's economic activity and 38% of its General Fund tax revenues ($15.5 billion annually), despite comprising just 32% of its population and 5% of its land [1]. SEPTA is the backbone of this productivity, enabling dense job clusters and efficient commuting for almost 750,000 daily riders [2]. However, proposed 45% service cuts and 21.5% fare increases would:

• Cost the Commonwealth $674 million annually in lost tax revenue, jeopardizing funding for schools, infrastructure, and social services statewide [1].
• Eliminate 76,700 jobs and $6 billion in worker earnings, destabilizing families and reducing income tax contribution [1].
• Decrease property values by $19.9 billion in the region, slashing local and Commonwealth property tax revenues [1].
• Increase congestion and pollution as riders shift to cars, costing households $830 annually in added transportation expenses [3].
• Damage Pennsylvania's appeal to businesses, tourists, and residents, especially ahead of 2026's high-profile events like the FIFA World Cup and Sesquicentennial.

SEPTA is not just a regional concern, it is a statewide asset. Every dollar invested in SEPTA yields $1.73 in economic returns for the Commonwealth through supporting jobs, reducing road maintenance costs, and strengthening the Commonwealth's tax base [4]. SEPTA's operations and capital projects sustain 26,500 jobs and generate $3.4 billion in annual economic activity across the Commonwealth [3]. These impacts extend far beyond Philadelphia—contractors, suppliers, and workers in every corner of Pennsylvania rely on SEPTA-funded projects.

While peer regions like Boston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., invest twice as much in transit, Pennsylvania's chronic underfunding of SEPTA has left it with aging infrastructure and a $2 billion backlog of deferred projects [1].

The proposed cuts will sever vital regional connections which will have catastrophic ripple effects. The cuts call for the complete elimination of both the Paoli/Thorndale Line and Trenton Line which are SEPTA's busiest and 4th busiest Regional Rail routes, respectively [5]. This won't just inconvenience commuters; it will decimate Philadelphia's economic infrastructure. The loss of the Paoli/Thorndale Line, which serves the Main Line's business hubs and suburbs will cripple reverse commuters and suburban professionals alike. Meanwhile, the elimination of the Trenton Line will sever one of Philadelphia's critical connections to New York City which is available by transferring from SEPTA to NJ Transit in Trenton. This connection to New York brings in revenues for the Commonwealth in the form of tourism dollars and daily business travelers.

The 9PM curfew on all rail service will create dangerous conditions leaving bars, restaurants, and event venues without transit options, which will inevitably push more drunk drivers onto our roads. This reckless policy arrives just as our Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles begin their title defense, with SEPTA simultaneously eliminating the Broad Street Line's Sports Express service that safely transports tens of thousands of fans to Lincoln Financial Field.

Eliminating these heavily-used rail lines and countless bus routes will force thousands of extra cars onto already congested highways like I-76, I-95, Roosevelt Blvd., and Route 30 every single day. This will drastically accelerate wear-and-tear on our crumbling road infrastructure. The sudden influx of cars will turn key corridors like the Schuylkill Expressway into permanent parking lots during rush hours. This isn't just inconvenient, it's a recipe for exponentially worse traffic and costly road repairs that taxpayers will ultimately foot.

These cuts do not represent fiscal responsibility – they're an act of economic self-sabotage that will strand workers, isolate communities, and make our roads more dangerous. At a time when Philadelphia should be celebrating its sports triumphs and preparing to welcome the world, we are on the brink of dismantling the very infrastructure that makes our region functional and vibrant.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your action.