Photo Credit: Transit for All PA!
By LNS Transit Organizer Bakar Height
From Philadelphia to Chicago, transit riders are feeling the effects of the impending fiscal cliff which will surely pass on to labor if the federal government does away with federal formula funding.
Upon a visit to Transportation Camp in Philadelphia, I also took a ride with a friend who knew of a unionized bus operator on SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Owl, Philly’s supplemental overnight transit service after the city’s heaviest ridden train line goes out of service around midnight. We were originally there to cover the safety concerns that many TWU Local 234 operators have complained about, but now it seems the service, along with many regional rail lines, buses, and even the paratransit service will cease to exist by the end of the year. While Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro works to gain more transit funding for the residents of the Keystone State, the US Department of Transportation has worked to freeze any programs that deliver formula funding to public transit systems, or cut them altogether if they are related to sustainability.
This spells trouble for the transit systems from across the country as many are still trying to regain strength after the pandemic, as well as keep up with the demand with the return of federal workers and many cities begging for residents and employers to return to the empty office buildings. The Transit Equity Network will continue to reach out and provide a space for labor union members and transit advocates to create solutions to these states amid the federal uncertainty.
If you are interested in joining the Transit Equity Network, please contact Bakari at bakari@labor4sustainability.