SEPTA to dip into highway funds
11th hour plan unveiled to save Philadelphia public transit

Gov. Ed Rendell (D) traveled to the 69th Street Terminal yesterday to announce a temporary solution to SEPTA's funding problems.

"Everybody's certainly aware mass transit in Pennsylvania is facing a crisis situation," Rendell said, as he outlined his two-pronged approach.

Rendell proposes pumping $18.8 million into mass transit, staving off several proposed cuts by SEPTA until March.

"Five and a half million dollars will come from money in the existing PennDOT budget and $13.3 million will be flexed from highway and bridge funds into mass transit," he said. Of that total, $13 million will go to SEPTA.

His action came in the wake of a Thursday decision by the SEPTA board to approve a contingency plan. Despite a room packed with protestors and pleas from several public officials, the SEPTA board approved a two-step fare increase, a reduction in weekday service by 20 percent and reducing, but not eliminating, weekend service. The changes would be effective Jan. 23.

The SEPTA board must still approve Rendell's plan.

Rendell also said he will call a special session of the General Legislature to convene the week of Jan. 17 to deal with a long-term solution.