Attendees from counties throughout the Commonwealth convened at the Capitol to rally and share personal testimonies on the importance of public transit for their lives and their communities, lifting their voices in a united call for the Governor and the General Assembly to fully fund transit in every county in PA.
Harrisburg, PA − June 4, 2025 − Today, as the General Assembly returned to session this week in the run-up to the passage of the 2025–2026 state budget, hundreds of transit riders, advocates, labor leaders, and businesses convened at the state Capitol to rally for full funding for transit across Pennsylvania.
Years of underfunding by the commonwealth have caused severe funding shortfalls for transit agencies throughout Pennsylvania, and many may be forced to implement severe cuts to services and steep fare hikes if the General Assembly fails to act.
Today’s rally was organized by Transit for All PA!, a statewide coalition of transit riders, transit workers, and transit-supportive organizations and businesses working to expand Pennsylvania’s public transit systems to grow Pennsylvania’s economy and connect residents to jobs, healthcare, and essential needs.
“Transit touches us all. Whether navigating major events in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, heading up an incline in Johnstown, getting to class in State College, or visiting our families in Scranton, we all deserve dignified, reliable transportation. We need full funding for all of Pennsylvania,” said Connor Descheemaker, Statewide Campaign Manager of Transit for All PA!.
Attendees at the rally came from eight different counties, some of them traveling overnight to participate. Their testimonies highlighted how investments in transit ripple out to benefit every corner of the Commonwealth by expanding mobility options for people with disabilities, seniors, and workers.
“Accessible, shared ride public transit in York connects me to my favorite local destinations and hangout spots in the community. It connects me to my volunteer opportunities, and soon, my workforce opportunities as well,” said Preston Gaylor, a member of the Public Transit Access Coalition. “Even though I and others in my community have disabilities, our lives still have meaning and purpose, and we deserve access to all the places we need to go. We’re calling on legislators and the Governor to fully fund transit for all residents with disabilities here in PA!”
“As a partner of human service providers across Lancaster County, we see firsthand the importance of public transit for our seniors, employees getting to work, families getting to food banks or grocery stores, and ensuring our neighbors have access to the mental health services they need,” said Dave Koser, Director of Programs of the Lancaster County Community Foundation (a member organization of the Transit Resources to Access Care Coalition).
While public transit is most visible in Pennsylvania’s largest cities, transit service is necessary and available in every Pennsylvania county.
“The Lehigh Valley is the third-largest community in Pennsylvania with two counties and over 700,000 residents,” said Scott Slingerland, Executive Director of CAT-Coalition for Appropriate Transportation. “Annually, 4,045,834 transit rides in the Lehigh Valley depend on this funding. To our region’s Senators Boscola, Coleman, and Miller, we need your support!”
“Transit workers represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union move millions of riders statewide, through 18 locals across the Commonwealth,” said Lionel Randolph, President of Harrisburg ATU Local 1436 and Legislative Director of the ATU PA Joint Conference Board. “Our passengers range from newborns to senior citizens, and all of us—riders and transit workers—are essential. We are calling on our legislators statewide to Fund Transit Now!”
“Like thousands of students in Philly, I commute about 40 minutes using three different routes to get to the best education available to me,” said Jaylah Fitzgerald, a rising senior at the Academy at Palumbo in Philadelphia, who spoke on behalf of the tens of thousands of students throughout the city who rely on transit to get to school. “Funding SEPTA funds our future.”
Many state legislators have signed on in support of Transit for All PA!’s legislative platform, expressing their commitment to dedicated funding capable of restoring and stabilizing transit across the Commonwealth. Legislators attending and supporting today’s rally included the following:
State Senator Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia), Chair of the Senate’s Philadelphia Delegation:“Millions of Pennsylvanians rely on public transit every day to travel to their jobs, schools, healthcare, essential services, and loved ones—and then back home again. The state budget is due June 30, and we need the Governor and the General Assembly to come together to fully fund transit throughout our Commonwealth. For now, and forever.”
State Representative Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia), Chair of the House’s Philadelphia Delegation: “Every time we hold a rally for mass transit at the Capitol, we fill the space with riders, supporters, and legislators standing to advocate for transit funding because this is so critical for so many communities. Pennsylvania stops when transit stops. We will not give up this fight until we deliver this investment for SEPTA, for rural transit, for all of Pennsylvania.”
State Representative Aerion Abney (D-Allegheny), Chair of the House’s Allegheny County Delegation: “Mass transit systems don’t serve riders based on their political affiliations, thus adequately funding mass transit systems should not become a pawn for political partisanship.”
State Senator Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny): Whether you live in Pittsburgh, Natrona Heights, or Altoona, we need a statewide public transit system that gets people where they need to go. I’m proud to sponsor the Transit for All PA proposal that would do just that—meaningfully and appropriately fund public transportation systems for all Pennsylvanians, urban, suburban, and rural alike.
State Representative Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny): “Public transit is a lifeline for our communities. In conjunction with the Governor’s proposal, the legislative package I have introduced with Rep. Abney in the House will provide the necessary funding to keep our Commonwealth moving, connecting people to work, school and entertainment, while keeping fewer cars on the road. We need leadership on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers to recognize the importance of funding transit sufficiently in this budget.”
State Representative Sean Dougherty (D-Philadelphia): “If we don’t fund SEPTA now, then we will all be honking our horns in traffic together on 95, 76, and the Boulevard. Our voices can be louder than our horns. We need to fund SEPTA for the Commonwealth as a whole. Every time we tap that card, that money is helping support roads and bridges in all 67 counties.”
State Representative Joshua Siegel (D-Lehigh): “Public transit is a public good, it’s more than buses and trains, it’s a lifeline for our seniors, veterans, and working families, it fuels our economy, connects people to the services they need, and serves our communities from Altoona to Allentown, rural and urban.”
State Representative Ismail Smith-Wade-El (D-Lancaster): “In Lancaster, we’ve already started to see the impacts of underfunded transit from wage hikes to service reductions—but when we talk about funding public transportation, it’s more than just the number of busses or trains: we’re talking about preserving our seniors’ ability to remain within the community, providing access to services for our disabled neighbors, and ensuring that Pennsylvanian workers from families with no car or only one car can participate in the economy.”
State Representative Paul Takac (D-Centre): “Public transit is an essential lifeline for millions of people in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania but is chronically and seriously underfunded. That is why I support Governor Shapiro’s proposed increase of $292 million for public transit funding to help ensure that these vital public services continue to operate in rural, urban, and suburban communities across our great Commonwealth.”
State Representative Ben Waxman (D-Philadelphia): “Public transit isn’t a luxury; it’s a vital service. These cuts threaten thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity. We need a permanent funding solution for transit now.”
Following the rally, attendees moved inside the Capitol to meet with their representatives and advocate for transit funding.
Full video footage of today’s rally is available upon request.
