Idea to privatize SEPTA floats around the State House amid funding crisis
The Brief
As SEPTA faces a funding crisis, a Republican leader in the state house has an idea to make things cheaper.
Here's what we know about the idea of privatizing SEPTA.
PHILADELPHIA - Facing a budget crunch and a money battle in Harrisburg, SEPTA has gotten what a leading Republican member of the state house believes is a cost-savings idea.
Place its bus service in private hands.
What we know
SEPTA says its bus services are the biggest part of its operation, providing 400-thousand trips per day on 125 bus routes in the region.
Bus ridership has come busting back after the slowdown from the pandemic.
All good news.
What they're saying
Now, a Republican leader in the state house thinks he has a way to make it cheaper.
"Privatizing the bus lines, trying to join into a public/private partnership with an organization so we can continue into the future without having a crisis when it comes to financing," said Pa. Representative Jesse Topper, a Republican from Bedford and Fulton Counties.
Topper is looking for co-sponsors on a bill he may offer in a few weeks mandating SEPTA pair with a private operator to run its sprawling bus lines.
He cites Denver as a city which has successfully done it.
SEPTA isn't so sure.
"We think that SEPTA is the best option for providing bus service in the city and the region. To provide the service on the scale and intensity we do it would require a great deal for somebody else to come in and be to operate that," Andrew Busch, SEPTA spokesperson.
The idea of privatizing emerges as SEPTA faces a funding crisis.
It argues without the $165 million Governor Shapiro has targeted for the authority in his budget it will be forced to impose a punishing 45 percent service cutback including dropping 50 bus and five Regional Rail lines.
Topper says 165 million won't fly. He said, "that kind of money devoted to simply one aspect of transportation. I don't believe that is achievable. Particularly with our budgets coming down the pike over the next couple of years."
SEPTA says its slashed costs--clawing back 30 million in savings--and its 165 million in state dollars is worth every last cent.
Andrew Busch said, "we think those funds are an investment that more than pays for itself in the money this region sends to Harrisburg."
The Source
The information in this story is from SEPTA officials, and Pa. Representative Jesse Topper.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
21 minutes ago
- Axios
San Antonio City Council election results show changing politics
San Antonio City Council District 1 incumbent Sukh Kaur held on to her seat in Saturday's runoff election, in which three new city councilmembers were also elected in a political shakeup. Why it matters: A new generation of councilmembers can help shape a range of transformative city plans as they work with new mayor Gina Ortiz Jones over the next four years — but they'll also have to contend with a possible budget deficit and cuts to services. By the numbers: Kaur beat out conservative neighborhood leader Patty Gibbons 65% to 35% in the downtown area district, which now also includes some neighborhoods north of Loop 410. The big picture: The San Antonio City Council could have a starker political divide. It'sgaining one more progressive and one more conservative member, who are taking over seats previously held by business-friendly and moderate Democrats. Ortiz Jones is expected to lead as a progressive. The latest: In District 6 on the Far West Side, Ric Galvan (50.1%) beat Kelly Ann Gonzalez (49.9%) by just 25 votes. Both have progressive backgrounds running in a district that has previously elected Republicans and business-friendly Democrats. In District 8 on the Northwest Side, Ivalis Meza Gonzalez (57%) beat Paula McGee (43%). Meza Gonzalez is the former chief of staff to Mayor Ron Nirenberg, while McGee had experience on city boards and support from the Republican Party of Bexar County. In District 9 on the North Side, Misty Spears (57%) beat Angi Taylor Aramburu (43%), putting this more conservative district back in Republican hands for the first time in eight years. Spears has been the director of constituent services for Republican Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody. Flashback: The four districts headed to the June runoff after no one earned more than 50% of the vote in the May 3 election. District 4 on the Southwest Side is newly represented by Edward Mungia, a former staff member in the office. He won outright in the May election.
Axios
21 minutes ago
- Axios
San Antonio mayor live election results: Gina Ortiz Jones wins race
San Antonio on Saturday elected Gina Ortiz Jones as its next mayor, choosing a Democrat instead of Republican Rolando Pablos for a nonpartisan race that became distinctly about politics. Why it matters: The mayoral election, the city's first in 16 years without an incumbent on the ballot, drew money and influence from across the state and nation. Neither Ortiz Jones nor Pablos have held elected office before, and San Antonio has not elected a mayor who hasn't served on the City Council since Phil Hardberger in 2005. The latest: Unofficial vote results showed Ortiz Jones with 54% of the vote compared to 46% for Pablos. All precincts were counted. What they're saying: Ortiz Jones told supporters at a watch party at The Dakota East Side Ice House that voters "reminded folks what San Antonio stands for," adding "that our city is about compassion and it's about leading with everybody in mind." "But you know what, our country — I think we're going through a blip right now, but San Antonio has had the opportunity to say, you know what? We're going to move past this," she added. Pablos conceded at his watch party, per KSAT. "We tried. I want to thank everybody for your support. It was a tough race, and I'm just happy that everybody came together for this community," he said. State of play: Ortiz Jones, who is believed to be the first openly gay woman elected San Antonio mayor, served as an Air Force undersecretary in the Biden administration and was twice the Democratic nominee for the 23rd Congressional District. During the runoff campaign, both candidates leaned into their families' immigrant backgrounds. Ortiz Jones spoke of being raised by a single mother who immigrated from the Philippines and Pablos of his family moving from Mexico to El Paso when he was 8 years old. Pablos is a former Texas secretary of state who has served as a senior adviser to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Follow the money: Pablos and his supporters appeared to both outraise and outspend Ortiz Jones in the runoff election, campaign finance reports show. Pablos raised nearly $333,000 and spent more than $275,000 from late April through May 28. He got a big boost from the Texas Economic Fund, a political action committee run by Abbott's former political director, which raised $1.35 million and spent over $623,000 during that time. Ortiz Jones raised nearly $249,000 and spent over $133,000 in the same period. She had help from Fields of Change, a national Democratic PAC, which spent more than $160,000 for her campaign. The big picture: The new mayor will lead San Antonio at a pivotal time, as officials seek to gain public support for a new downtown Spurs arena that could be surrounded by a sports and entertainment district. They will also lead the city through the remaining years of the Trump administration, under which San Antonio has lost millions of dollars in federal funding. The city is also expecting a budget deficit. Catch up quick: Mayor Ron Nirenberg reached his term limits after eight years in office, making him the city's longest-serving mayor since Henry Cisneros in the 1980s. San Antonio's next mayor will serve for four years after voters approved increasing term length from two years. They will work alongside several new city councilmembers members. Flashback: Nirenberg's departure left a rare opening that drew a crowded 27-candidate field to replace him. Four sitting city councilmembers struggled to break through the noise as traditional backers in local elections, like the police union, sat out the first round of voting. By the numbers: Voters showed low enthusiasm for the May 3 election, which overlapped with Fiesta, at 9.26%. In the runoff, turnout rose to nearly 17%.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Battle over SEPTA funding continues in Harrisburg: This Week in Pennsylvania
(WHTM) – The fight over funding SEPTA continues to brew in the State Capitol with the budget deadline looming. The transportation authority has thousands of stops across five southeastern counties. However, some lawmakers in Harrisburg say if funding keeps going toward SEPTA, there needs to be more funding for roads statewide where residents don't ride SEPTA. Scott Sauer, General Manager for SEPTA, joins This Week in Pennsylvania to discuss the ongoing structural deficit, SEPTA's biggest needs, and how SEPTA impacts all of Pennsylvania. Every week, This Week in Pennsylvania gives a comprehensive look at the week's biggest news events in Pennsylvania, provided by the abc27 News team, along with the latest updates on local stories. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Check your local listings for weekly air times. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
