Keith Karn

Narberth

I grew up on a dirt road, miles outside of Pittsburgh. As a kid, I roamed freely with my friends and our dogs on about 500 acres of forest and farmland. Despite this rural upbringing, I told people from outside our area that I was from Pittsburgh. Occasionally, as a teen I would get a ride to the nearest bus stop and catch the bus into Pittsburgh. When I went to Penn State, I discovered that students from east of State College adopted Philly as their city — or at least were Eagles and Phillies fans, and people west of State College said they were from “near Pittsburgh” — or similarly were Steelers and Pirates fans. I now live “in Philly” with my wife and kids. We chose a neighborhood near a train stop for easy transportation into Center City.

Having grown up in rural Pennsylvania, and now living in one of our great cities, I love all that Pennsylvania has to offer — natural beauty, fertile farmland, as well as the energy and opportunity of two world-class cities. Philadelphia, the birthplace of the United States, boasts unmatched historical sites, rich and diverse cuisine, magnificent museums; Pittsburgh, a city of bridges with a pivotal role in the industrial revolution, has reinvented itself as an innovation hub with top universities, museums and a thriving food scene. Both cities enjoy exciting professional sports teams with passionate fans.

Today, a foundational element of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia — their public transit — faces severe cuts. Why would anyone living far outside Philadelphia or Pittsburgh care about the public transportation crisis in these cities? Economically, what hurts Philadelphia and Pittsburgh hurts all Pennsylvanians.

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh contribute more than half of the State’s General Fund — through corporate, personal income, and sales taxes — and therefore, provide the majority of funding for many projects throughout the state.

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh — the two largest and most densely populated areas within Pennsylvania — rely heavily on public transit to move people around these metropolitan areas.

Public transportation requires tremendous public investment, as do the building and maintenance of roads, highways, bridges and airports.

Above a certain population density, public transportation is more efficient than individual transportation (cars) by any measure (fuel consumption per passenger mile, speed, overall cost, etc.).

Modern economies throughout the world rely on rail systems for transportation of people in and between urban areas because of their efficiency. Other countries (Japan, China, France, Germany, Italy) have public transit systems that outpace ours. Maintaining and enhancing our public transportation systems in U.S. cities helps us compete globally.

Without public transit, housing in and near our Pennsylvania cities will become less desirable and property values will fall.

Without public transit, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will become less desirable locations for business. Employers will leave Pennsylvania. Unemployment will rise; people will leave the state.

Without public transit, more people will be forced to drive into the cities adding significant traffic congestion. My friend who just moved to Philadelphia from Los Angles will tell you how great our public transit system is compared to the daily ordeal of sitting in traffic.

Without public transit, many residents who do not own a car will struggle to access work, school and medical care.

Without public transit, Philadelphia will lose its standing as the 6th largest city in the U.S.

Without reliable public transit, contributions to the Pennsylvania economy from the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh regions will decrease significantly. This means that taxes in the rest of the state will need to increase or the entire state will face dramatic reductions in services including education, law enforcement.

What can you do? First, tell your Pennsylvania state senator and representative that you support consistent and adequate funding for public transportation in Pennsylvania’s cities. Let them know that you understand that keeping the public moving in our cities will be good for all Pennsylvanians.

Then, come visit Philadelphia or Pittsburgh — you can park and ride into the city from many of Philadelphia’s SEPTA Regional Rail stations or Pittsburgh’s PAT bus stops. Come visit a museum or cheer on the Eagles, Steelers, Phillies, or Pirates.