GVF Statement from the Montgomery County Commissioners' Transit Funding Press Event

Rob Henry, GVF Executive Director, speaks at a press conference at the King of Prussia Mall to advocate for SEPTA Funding.

Thank you to Commissioner Makhija and Commissioner Winder for holding this important press event. Thank you to the King of Prussia Mall and to GVF Board President Bob Hart for hosting this event. GVF has been focusing on mobility challenges and solutions for over thirty-five years. Public transit is critically important for our region and Pennsylvania. I’d like you to imagine not wanting to invest in something that had a four-to-one return.

For every dollar we spend on public transit there is a four dollar return on that investment. Economic growth and improved quality of life are dream scenarios for many people.

Imagine if we don’t invest in public transit. Our region and Pennsylvania’s economy will decelerate. Traffic will increase on our highways, our local roads and throughout our communities. Imagine businesses closing because employees can no longer get to their jobs, trucks are now stuck in unbearable traffic, which causes the costs of everyday household items to increase. Companies decide to relocate from Pennsylvania because we decided not to invest in ourselves. Imagine a scenario where people lose jobs, our regional and statewide economy declines, our neighbors and friends have to move out of Pennsylvania all because our state elected leaders decided that public transit wasn’t important.

To me, this is a nightmare, and it’s a future I don’t want to imagine, but unfortunately, unless we all do something to help stress the importance of funding public transit, economic deceleration, further environmental degradation, and significantly more traffic are in our future. A four-to-one economic return is a phenomenal investment. Our region has thrived and is the economic engine of Pennsylvania due to our public transit network.

Please contact your state elected officials and stress to them how important investing in public transportation is so we can continue to imagine a bright future.

Thank you,

Rob Henry

GVF Executive Director