Upbeat_Estimate1501 t1_j5wpc7o wrote on January 26, 2023 at 2:11 AM

Reply to comment by MrATLien in If PA can't work out a deal to fund transit when COVID relief runs out, there could be massive service cuts to transit again. Does anyone remember when something similar happened in 2007-2011 and how it affected things? I live in Philly but this could happen to us too and I'm curious what it's like by MrATLien

I need to get a lot more involved in public transit activism honestly, it's been something sort of on the brain for a while I just haven't and probably will look into it after the move.

There definitely haven't been fare hikes or anything -- the opposite actually, so we can say that at least. And even the service reductions come after they've been slowly cut over time. I'd be curious to compare to what MTA or New Jersey would be doing as well.

MrATLien OP t1_j5wysu5 wrote on January 26, 2023 at 3:15 AM

I hate to be pessimistic, but given the massive budget shortfalls of the vast majority of American transit agencies, the future has never looked more bleak for them. At least not in my lifetime.

There's a good chance that in 3 years or so, any transit agency that doesn't get a permanent funding source from its state will look back at 2023 even as "the good old days". Given that even a state like CA is mulling transit cuts, I'm not optimistic for PA at all.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/lower-public-transit-use-in-pennsylvania-poses-long-term-budget-problems/article_55ecf108-92bf-11ed-a81c-c7da471e92d3.html