No action on SEPTA funding; transit worried

No action on SEPTA funding; transit worried

Says 1,400 layoff notices in the mail
By ERIN EINHORN

Letters are on their way to hundreds of SEPTA employees today advising them that their jobs are in jeopardy, a SEPTA spokesman said yesterday.

In the wake of state legislators' decision yesterday to adjourn for the year without taking action on a public transit funding package, Republican legislators were blaming the governor, Gov. Rendell was pleading with legislators to return to Harrisburg, and SEPTA officials were bracing for the worst.

SEPTA has warned that without $62 million in crucial state funding, it will be forced to end weekend service on all of its lines, raise fares by 25 percent and lay off 1,400 employees.

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Some Dems are steaming privately that the Republican leadership stormed out of Harrisburg in anger because Rendell would not commit to funding a pay raise for legislators. They say that Republican leaders angrily approached Rendell about the pay increases after midnight yesterday and that when Rendell declined to commit on that issue, they decided to adjourn.

But the Republicans say the two issues have nothing to do with each other. The only issue, they say, is the governor's priorities.

"If there's a single service cut, if there's a single train that doesn't run, if there's a single person that is unemployed, it's on the shoulders of Ed Rendell and only Ed Rendell," Miskin said. "He doesn't seem to understand how to prioritize the issues or how to prioritize his spending."


http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/10243535.htm

Meanwhile, the legislative session isn't over until Nov. 30th but the republicans are refusing to return and debate this like grown-ups. But they still are trying to lay the blame on Rendell.

1400 laid off, 25% increase in fares, no weekend service on the only transportion system that serves Philly and its suburbs...doesn't hurt them or their base does it? :eyes:

I used to ride to work each day on SEPTA trains.
It is amazing that here in Virginia, south of DC, that there is very limited train service.

Shame on the PA Republicans for not reaching out to fund SEPTA is all I can say. And then they go and blame it on Rendell?
Shameful!!
I hope it gets resolved, because many people depend on SEPTA for transportation.