Riders, advocates, and elected officials gather at the El stop at 5th and Market Streets near Philadelphia’s Independence Mall to call for full transit funding in the 2026–2027 state budget.
PHILADELPHIA, PA − June 26, 2026 − Today, transit advocates, community leaders, and elected representatives gathered near Independence Mall to call for funding in the 2026–2027 Pennsylvania state budget to keep transit systems moving across the Commonwealth.
“Creating new, dedicated revenue sources for the services that move nearly a million Pennsylvanians each day is possible, necessary, and urgent,” said Julio Rodriguez, Policy Director for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. “People should be able to walk, bike, and take public transit to their destination, it’s how we get to less cars on the road.”
Transit operates in every county in Pennsylvania, with nearly a million people across the Commonwealth utilizing public transit each day.
“Transit plays a vital role in the 6th Senatorial District and throughout Pennsylvania, providing essential transportation for residents, students, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and our workforce. Reliable public transit connects people to jobs, schools, healthcare, and countless other opportunities, while also supporting our regional economy,” said State Senator Frank Farry (R–Bucks). “When transit agencies faced a significant financial crisis last year, my colleagues and I worked tirelessly to identify a short-term solution to prevent service disruptions. However, from the beginning, our focus has always been on developing a sustainable, long-term funding strategy that provides certainty for transit agencies and the people who depend on them every day.”
The El stop at 5th and Market Streets was recently renovated with modern facilities, including new elevators and ramps to allow riders with disabilities and those traveling with strollers, market carts, and bicycles to access transit and get where they need to go. Speakers noted the need for crucial infrastructure upgrades for bus, train, and trolley stops across Pennsylvania.
“Our transit is what brought the World Cup to Philadelphia. Our transit is what allows us to prepare for the MLB All-Star festivities. Our transit is helping millions visit our city and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And this is on top of the fact that transit helps hundreds of thousands of people throughout the region get where we need to go each and every day,” said State Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia). “The Pennsylvania legislature can ensure freedom of movement for everyone who lives, works, and visits Pennsylvania by coming together and prioritizing transit.”
“Public transit is essential to the economic strength and daily life of communities across Pennsylvania. Last year, I walked 105 miles from North Philadelphia to Harrisburg to raise awareness about the urgent need for reliable, long-term transit funding,” said State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta (D–Philadelphia). “Public transit is not a luxury—it is a lifeline connecting people to work, school, medical care, and opportunity. Riders should not have to face another crisis before Harrisburg acts. Pennsylvania moves when public transit moves, and it is time for the state to fund it like the essential public service it is.”
“Nearly every transit agency in PA has been forced to rob its fixed-route budgets to keep essential shared-ride and paratransit services running—endangering the long-term health of fixed-route services in the process,” said Connor Descheemaker, statewide campaign manager for Transit For All PA. “This has positioned our most vulnerable residents, in the most rural corners of the state, on the brink of losing access to healthcare, food, jobs, and community. Now, with a budget due and new revenue sources possible, transit funding must be a top priority. Alongside a new funding model for shared-ride and paratransit services in all 67 counties, we can deliver new revenue for our entire Commonwealth.”
The Pennsylvania state budget for 2026–2026 is due to be passed by Wednesday, July 1.