{"id":124467,"date":"2025-08-06T20:15:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T20:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/124467\/"},"modified":"2025-08-06T20:15:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T20:15:15","slug":"septa-riders-lawmakers-rally-in-philly-for-transit-funding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/124467\/","title":{"rendered":"SEPTA riders, lawmakers rally in Philly for transit funding"},"content":{"rendered":"

As SEPTA officials held a press conference at their headquarters to discuss upcoming service cuts Wednesday, hundreds of local activists and concerned citizens rallied at\u00a0 City Hall to make a final push for state funding.<\/p>\n

Faced with a $213 million recurring deficit, SEPTA plans to cut 45% of its services in the coming year. The first round of those cuts, which includes route eliminations and reductions, is set to start on August 24. On Wednesday, SEPTA leadership said it needed an answer regarding funding by Aug. 14<\/a> in order to set schedules and update information sources.<\/p>\n

With 18 days until service cuts are implemented<\/a>, the sense of urgency among attendees and speakers to secure funding and continue services was palpable at the rally.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Sen. Nikil Saval, D-Philadelphia, introduced speakers and gave opening and closing remarks for the rally on Wednesday, Aug. 6.(Davis Cuffe\/Billy Penn)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe time for action is now. No more delays, no more kicking the can down the road,\u201d said Sen. Nikil Saval, D-Philadelphia. \u201cWe need a budget that invests in communities across the Commonwealth, including full funding for transit infrastructure that moves all Pennsylvanians, and we need it now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saval acted as the host of the event, introducing all speakers and giving a speech of his own at the onset of the rally.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m astonished to be here today, astonished because I can\u2019t believe we\u2019re over five weeks late on a state budget that harms our schools, our social services, our behavioral health and our public transportation,\u201d said Connor Descheemaker, statewide campaign manager for Transit for All PA. \u201cI\u2019m astonished that our Pennsylvania Senate leadership would hold in contempt millions of Pennsylvanians who deserve reliable, funded public services.\u201d<\/p>\n

Descheemaker was one of the 11 speakers at the rally. Other speakers included Sen. Steven Santarsiero, D-Bucks; Sen. Christine Tartaglione, D-Philadelphia; and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Arthur Steinberg.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Tom Volkert, of East Falls, said he is retired but takes SEPTA to church. (Davis Cuffe\/Billy Penn)<\/p>\n

Speakers delivered their speeches on the north apron of City Hall to a huddle of over 300 rallygoers, according to rally organizer and Transit Forward Philadelphia coalition manager Stephen Bronskill. Many waved signs voicing their support for SEPTA.<\/p>\n

Sign messages included:<\/p>\n