HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers missed the June 30 deadline to pass the state budget, continuing a deadlock over transit funding. Governor Josh Shapiro had previously authorized two years of funding for public transit and introduced a sales tax reallocation proposal.

Following a court-ordered injunction in September that halted service cuts by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Shapiro authorized two years of funding from the Public Transportation Trust Fund, which is designated for repairs and emergency expenses. "I bought us two years—but we have to keep working at this, because this isn't a problem we can ignore," Shapiro said.

More than 700,000 people rely on SEPTA daily. Shapiro's fiscal year 2027 budget proposal included a plan to increase the portion of sales tax revenue allocated to mass transit. This reallocation plan would provide $319 million in funding to transit agencies across Pennsylvania and would take effect one year from the proposal date.

State Representative Jennifer O'Mara indicated that transit issues may not be a primary obstacle. "[Transit] is not going to be the sticking point that holds up a budget this year," said O'Mara, who serves on the House Transportation Committee. SEPTA reduced its deficit from $213 million to $192 million through austerity measures.

State Senator Tim Kearney, a minority member of the Senate Transportation Committee, expressed a different view. "The Republicans feel like [the two-year funding] means transit is off the table, and I don't think they're going to acquiesce to anything more," Kearney said.