The Philadelphia-area transit agency is legally tasked with maintaining a balanced budget. Officials hope the state will come to the rescue with additional funding.
A budget adopted by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) cuts the agency’s budget nearly in half. “In all, service will be cut 45% in addition the fare increase, which will bring SEPTA’s base price to $2.90 per ride,” writes Thomas Fitzgeland in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The agency is required by law to maintain a balanced budget. “Meanwhile, legislative leaders say the state budget that could help won’t be finished before the July 1 start of the fiscal year.” A proposed state budget passed by the House in June would give SEPTA about $166 million in the first year of a five-year plan. “The House bill also would set up a bipartisan commission to devise a funding plan that would avoid near-yearly battles that leave transit agencies hanging.”
Read the full story: SEPTA board approves budget that will slash nearly half its transit service
SEPTA Proposes $400M From State Fund to Delay Service Cuts
The plan would stave off service cuts for two years, but even if approved, the agency plans to go ahead with fare hikes on September 14.
Sports Gambling Company Sponsors Suspended Philly Stadium Train Amidst SEPTA Cuts
After SEPTA announced it would have to cut the subway line that leads to Lincoln Field, FanDuel offered $80k to keep the train running for the season opener.
Judge Orders SEPTA to Stop Service Cuts, Fare Increases
The Philadelphia transit agency planned a ⅕ reduction in service and fare hikes to make up for its $213 million budget deficit.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
US buildings threatened, destroyed by fires set to triple by 2060
Researchers found a high fire risk for socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods in the American West.
LA residents may be allowed to paint their own crosswalks
Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky put out a motion instructing the Los Angeles Department of Public Transportation to study the feasibility of allowing volunteers to paint crosswalks.
Dallas moves to overhaul its zoning code
The city's zoning reform will allow more multi-family and mixed-use developments.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority