Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a Philadelphia Democrat and Democratic National Committee Vice Chair, completed a 105-mile walk from Philadelphia to Harrisburg over Labor Day weekend to call for mass transit funding. The four-day walk included stops in Philadelphia, West Chester, Lancaster, and Harrisburg.
Kenyatta said the walk was meant to highlight the ongoing state budget stalemate and the lack of agreement on transit funding. At rallies, he urged Pennsylvanians to pressure Senate Republicans to negotiate a funding plan.
Kenyatta criticized Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana, citing an Aug. 25 fundraiser as an example of Republicans prioritizing donors over governing. He also pointed to Facebook ads from Republican senators, including Frank Farry, which claimed they voted to fund transit through a proposal to use the Public Transportation Trust Fund. Democrats opposed the plan, saying it would redirect money from capital projects. SEPTA did not support the bill.
In August, Pittman posted on X that Pennsylvania needs “common-sense solutions” that use existing funds before seeking more taxpayer money. Republicans have also pointed to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s decision to use PennDOT’s federal highway funds to sustain SEPTA temporarily, while requiring the legislature to find a permanent fix.
House Democrats have passed five funding bills, but the Senate has not taken up any. Shapiro’s proposal would dedicate 1.75% of state sales tax revenue to transit across all 67 counties. Republicans argued that the plan relies too heavily on future sales tax revenue.
Democrats have stressed that transit is a statewide issue, noting its importance in rural and urban communities. AFL-CIO president Angela Ferritto said the issue affects counties including Westmoreland, Montgomery, Erie, Lancaster, Lackawanna, and York.
Republicans have accused Democrats of using political theater during negotiations and said attacks on social media and in press conferences have delayed progress on a budget deal.
