O'Rourke brings back a smaller Transit Access Fund, with 14 co-sponsors

At Thursday's Council session, at-large Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke reintroduced his plan for a city Transit Access Fund, a dedicated pot of money for the programs that give free or discounted SEPTA rides to low-income Philadelphians. The new bill is a scaled-back version of a proposal that never got a committee hearing, the Inquirer reported.

For riders, the stakes are concrete. The fund would back Zero Fare, which gives free rides to residents at or below 150% of the federal poverty line, along with SEPTA's Key Advantage and Key Partner programs, according to City & State Pennsylvania. Zero Fare started as a two-year pilot paid for with federal pandemic relief money. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker first proposed ending its funding before reversing course during budget talks, City & State reported.

What changed

The original package, introduced in spring 2025, would have amended the Home Rule Charter. It would have asked voters to require the city to set aside 0.5% of its general fund for transit access every year. The administration's fiscal note on that package, which lists the files as 250375, 250376 and 250398, estimated the set-aside at more than $33 million in the first year and about $135 million over five years, as the Inquirer summarized it.

That version never moved. The Inquirer reported that Council President Kenyatta Johnson never referred it to a committee. In Philadelphia, a bill that is never referred can't get a hearing or a vote.

The new bill adds a chapter to the city code instead of changing the charter. It lets the administration create the fund and requires an annual Transit Access Plan. It sets no dollar amount or percentage, according to both outlets. O'Rourke's office says 14 of the 17 members are co-sponsors, Johnson among them, the Inquirer reported. The article did not name the three members who did not sign on.

O'Rourke told the Inquirer that the scaled-back bill is "what we got the most support around." He also said affordable access to SEPTA "is key to Philly's future," according to City & State.

Johnson, asked about bills with large price tags, told the Inquirer: "It has nothing to do if they are good ideas or bad ideas." The paper reported he is scrutinizing costly proposals ahead of the next budget.

What the record shows

• Not yet posted. The bill was introduced Oct. 22. As of Friday, the Oct. 22 meeting record on Legistar did not yet show its file number or committee referral. It is worth watching whether this version gets referred, given what happened to the first one.
• The same committee has been busy with transit. On Oct. 6 the Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities held a hearing on student transit access and expanding SEPTA's student fare program. On Oct. 22, Council voted to send that committee a new hearing on Philadelphia Gas Works shutoffs (Resolution 260897). Affordability is now running through one committee on several fronts.
• The money question. The Inquirer reported that the city budget is about $7 billion, with roughly $1.1 billion in reserves as of June 30. It also noted that Council rejected the mayor's proposed $1-per-ride rideshare tax this year.

What's next

The bill needs a referral to committee, a public hearing, a committee vote and two readings before final passage. It also needs the mayor's signature, or enough Council votes to override a veto. Parker has said the city is in talks with SEPTA about extending Zero Fare permanently, City & State reported. The administration's position on the new fund itself has not been reported.

Council's next stated meeting is Thursday, Oct. 29, at 10 a.m. Check the Legistar calendar for the agenda.