Overview

• The Republican-controlled Senate passed a flat $47.6 billion budget alongside a $1.2 billion, two-year transit plan that draws roughly $292 million a year from the Public Transportation Trust Fund.
• On Aug. 13, the Democratic-led House Rules Committee voted 18-15 along party lines to block the Senate’s transit bill from advancing to the full House.
• SEPTA general manager Scott Sauer confirmed that 20 percent system-wide service cuts will begin Aug. 24 and warned of a 21.5 percent fare increase on Sept. 1 if state funding is not secured.
• Transit officials and Democrats say repurposing trust-fund capital jeopardizes infrastructure repairs and safety projects, while Republicans contend the fund’s unspent balances can temporarily sustain operations.
• Closed-door negotiations involving Gov. Josh Shapiro and legislative leaders continue as SEPTA and Pittsburgh Regional Transit face potential layoffs and route eliminations without a bipartisan funding deal.