The news out of the governor’s office last week was a mixed bag at best. The Commonwealth’s 2026–27 budget finally cleared the Senate — but once again, without any long–term solution for SEPTA or for transit agencies anywhere in Pennsylvania. For those keeping score, SEPTA is already surviving on a stopgap maneuver: shifting dollars meant for capital improvements into the operating budget just to close this year’s and next year’s deficits. That’s not a real fix, and there’s no guarantee Harrisburg will deliver one in 2026 or 2027.

If we want to reduce traffic congestion and improve quality of life in our city, we must secure both operating and capital funding for SEPTA — not just for today but for the long haul.

Save the Train and its members will need to stay vigilant. Our lawmakers must feel sustained public pressure if we are to not only preserve Regional Rail service but improve it. The urgency became painfully clear after five fires involving the Silverliner IV fleet prompted a Federal Transit Administration order that forced SEPTA to inspect the cars, wreaking havoc on service for weeks, and problems are continuing. These trains make up two-thirds of the Regional Rail fleet, they are more than 50 years old, and they are long overdue for replacement.

The case for investment is straightforward. Traffic is already bad — and it will only get worse if SEPTA is forced to cut the Chestnut Hill West Line or any other Regional Rail service. If we want fewer cars on the road and less wear and tear on our infrastructure, we need to buy new railcars, subway cars, trolleys, and buses. We need to modernize stations and ensure service is safe, clean, and frequent — not just once an hour. SEPTA has a plan to get us there. What it doesn’t have yet is the funding.

I encourage everyone to take a look at SEPTA’s capital initiatives at septa.org/initiatives/

In the months ahead, I plan to meet with community partners, local officials, and legislative leaders across the Commonwealth to build the broad coalition needed to replace Act 89, whose dedicated funding stream ran dry two years ago. Any successful legislation must be a comprehensive investment package — one that supports transit, roads, bridges, and highways alike. Pennsylvania’s economy works best when every part of our transportation system does.

Over the next two years we need to continually demand that commitment. Anyone who wishes to join us in the fight, please reach out to Bob Previdi at robertwprevidi@gmail.com.