March 20, 2020
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Minority Leader
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Charles Schumer
Minority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer:
As Congress considers additional federal assistance measures to help communities recover from
this extraordinary public health crisis, we respectfully urge you to provide emergency
supplemental funding for the nation’s public transportation systems. The effects of the COVID19 outbreak are widespread and having an unprecedented impact on every facet of American life,
including essential services like public transportation. The American Public Transportation
Association (APTA) is requesting $16 billion in direct financial assistance to help the nation’s
public transportation agencies offset additional costs and lost revenue and ensure the
continuation of safe and reliable service. Funding shortfalls of this magnitude jeopardize public
transportation service in every corner of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania’s public transportation agencies provide critical mobility and are an economic
engine for the entire Commonwealth. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, transit agencies in
Pennsylvania have taken on added importance, providing vital transportation for transit
dependent residents and essential service providers, including medical professionals, employees
of essential commerce, public safety and emergency services personnel, and utility workers.
Public transportation providers continue to deliver service throughout the region during this
challenging time, providing much-needed mobility and stability for Pennsylvania residents.
Financial impacts on a massive scale are being felt by transit providers in all of Pennsylvania’s
67 counties. Much of the operating assistance provided by the state to Pennsylvania transit
agencies is derived from state sales taxes and other funding mechanisms. Those sources will be
significantly compromised by the broad economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, creating
extensive financial burdens.
In southeastern Pennsylvania, several members of our delegation have been in direct and
frequent contact with leadership of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
(SEPTA), which serves the Philadelphia metropolitan region. The financial impact of the
outbreak on SEPTA’s operations will be devastating. In the current fiscal year, SEPTA has
budgeted anticipated fare revenue of $165 million between March 1 and the end of its fiscal year
on June 30. Based on ridership projections, informed by significant declines since the beginning

 of the month, SEPTA anticipates a net operating loss of $150 million through the end of the
fiscal year.
Based on updated passenger counts, SEPTA transit ridership is down 60 percent from baseline
levels and Regional Rail has fallen by 86 percent. Governor Wolf’s order to close all non-lifesustaining businesses guarantees heightened and sustained ridership and revenue losses that are
not just an immediate threat, but if not addressed now will impact SEPTA’s ability to provide
critical mobility once recovery and safe and reliable public transportation will be needed most.
SEPTA’s operating funding shortfall is not of SEPTA’s making. SEPTA is consistently a
national model for fiscal management and taxpayer stewardship. With a surplus through
February, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, SEPTA was on pace to complete its 21st consecutive
year with a balanced budget.
Transit agencies in southwestern Pennsylvania, including the Port Authority of Allegheny
County (PAT) and Beaver County Transit Authority (BCTA) also face significant financial harm
as a result of decreased ridership stemming from COVID-19. PAT leadership is compiling full
loss information and intends to provide regular updates to elected representatives. Specifically,
they already face increased costs related to the purchase of personal protective equipment
(gloves, sanitizer, disinfecting wipes), other key supplies (disinfectant cleaner, bleacher), and
added labor costs to ensure vehicles are cleaned daily and safe for passengers. In addition to
decreased ridership, PAT is also facing cancelation by clients who advertise on its system. Yet,
despite these challenges, transit agencies in southwestern Pennsylvania like PAT must be able to
retain some level of service. Many southwestern Pennsylvanians continue to rely on public
transit as their only transportation option—especially our seniors who need to be able to get to
doctors, grocery stores, or their families.
Pennsylvania and the nation need strong and reliable transit systems, especially when this crisis
ends and people will be returning to work, school and normalcy. We look forward, then, to
working with you to secure emergency supplemental funding to ensure transit agencies have the
financial resources necessary to serve their communities today and into the future.
Thank you in advance for your support of this important effort.
Sincerely,

Dwight Evans
Member of Congress

Brian Fitzpatrick
Member of Congress

Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senate

Matt Cartwright
Member of Congress

Brendan F. Boyle
Member of Congress

Chrissy Houlahan
Member of Congress

2

 Lloyd Smucker
Member of Congress

Madeleine Dean
Member of Congress

Conor Lamb
Member of Congress

Mike Doyle
Member of Congress

3

Mary Gay Scanlon
Member of Congress