Image courtesy of SEPTA Facebook
Montgomery County Commissioners were joined by higher education leaders and students to call attention to the devastating impact that SEPTA’s funding crisis could have on college campuses and regional education facilities if Harrisburg fails to act on SEPTA’s current budget shortfall.
SEPTA has announced that without sufficient funding, regional rail and bus lines would be eliminated or drastically cut back, making the region’s esteemed educational campuses less accessible to thousands of students, staff, and faculty.
“Montgomery County and our surrounding region are home to some of the best colleges and universities in the country, and there are 300,000 college students at over 30 universities in our region. But how do students get to class if their train line disappears?” said Neil K. Makhija, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “We are calling on the state legislature: don’t let our students get off track. Invest in the system that makes our colleges accessible, our region competitive, and our future bright. Our universities are engines of opportunity, but that engine can’t run without SEPTA to fuel it.”
“This isn’t just a transit issue – this is a justice issue, an education issue, and an economic issue,” said Jamila H. Winder, Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “So many of our students don’t or can’t afford to live on-campus or close by. They live in neighborhoods all across this region. They work jobs, care for loved ones, and hustle every day – and SEPTA is how they do it.”
The County Commissioners gathered at Bryn Mawr station, one of the SEPTA stations among the five Regional Rail Lines that face elimination in January. They were joined by representatives of some of Montgomery County’s local higher education institutions who highlighted the broader impact that public transit cuts would have to the region, including students and leaders from Bryn Mawr College, Montgomery County Community College, Haverford College, and Saint Joseph’s University.
“Denying college students direct access to SEPTA will not only make it more difficult for students and local/regional communities to work together but also will increase the likelihood that students will depart the region after graduation without those bonds,” said Wendy Cadge, President of Bryn Mawr College. “SEPTA creates opportunities for student and community members to work together through local organizations that enrich our civic life and societal well-being.”
“Affordable, reliable public transportation is essential for our students—it’s a lifeline,” said Dr. Vicki Bastecki-Perez, President of Montgomery County Community College. “It connects them to classes, jobs, internships, childcare, and critical resources—supporting their path to a better future. Funding SEPTA is an investment in people, progress, and the success of generations to come.”
“Students in Montgomery County work hard every day going to classes and working part-time to support themselves through college. We want them to be able to study, live and work here. Without reliable public transit, the students, the schools, and our local businesses all suffer,” said Tom DiBello, Montgomery County Commissioner. “Other major metropolitan areas invest more money in their transit systems. We need to be expanding SEPTA’s network, not cutting back, to keep our region competitive.”
“Funding SEPTA is the bare minimum,” said Makhija. “Another $100 million beyond the current budget shortfall could deliver a transit system with service every 15 minutes—something that residents across Pennsylvania deserve.”
