SEPTA cuts would derail economic growth and workforce mobility in the Suburban counties

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is not just a transit system. It is the lifeblood of our region's economy, connecting our residents to jobs, our employers to talent, and our communities to opportunity. The proposed devasting cuts to services due to lack of dedicated state funding would be nothing short of catastrophic for the economy of Pennsylvania — especially for the suburban counties of Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, and Delaware.

- by Laura Manion, Trish McFarland, and Bernard Dagenais Presidents, Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry, Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, and Main Line Chamber of Commerce

Along with Philadelphia, the five counties generate 41% of the state's economic activity, with 32% of its population on 5% of its land. The ability to move people effectively throughout our region is essential to maintaining and growing this level of economic activity.

While public transit is often thought of as a big-city issue, the truth is that suburban counties rely on SEPTA every single day. Whether it's a nurse commuting from Phoenixville to a hospital in Center City, a hospitality worker in Media heading to a restaurant job in King of Prussia, or a student from Coatesville enrolled in a Philadelphia trade school, SEPTA is the thread that binds together our regional workforce. The proposed cuts would rip that thread apart.