Public transit whiplash ahead in 2026

(The Center Square) – It was a wild ride in 2025 for the millions of Pennsylvania residents who rely on public transportation. And 2026 looks no calmer. Ideas were floated and rejected. Routes were suspended and resumed. Funding was denied then extended via emergency measures. None of it ever seemed to come to a resolution. The year started with an optimistic plan revived from the previous year from Gov. Josh Shapiro to give public transit a permanent revenue stream. Take an extra 1.75% from revenue already coming in from state sales tax and put it toward funding transit, with the two biggest recipients being Philadelphia-area SEPTA and Pittsburgh Regional Transit. Though they are the biggest metro regions in the state, they aren’t the only places with vital public transportation services. All 67 of the state’s counties have some kind of public transit. In rural regions where doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and grocery stores are few and far between, many of the state’s elderly and disab