The Septa of Tomorrow

I ask of all those who live in this fine city of Philadelphia to look around. Turn your head left and right, and see the people around you. Walking down the street, we pass one another with a quiet stoicism, barely recognizing our coexistence. But I ask you, my fellow Philadelphians, have you forgotten your community? Have you forgotten your brothers and sisters, sons and daughters? As moral beings it is our duty to care for one another. And as modern beings we have built governments and set up institutions to improve our capability of caring. In our very own city we are beginning to see the ill effects of negligence tainting a sacred system, and it is about time we affect real change.

Riding above and below our city streets is a system of transportation we take for granted. Through the management of the South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority(SEPTA), we are fortunate to have such a circuitous and dedicated public transportation system. They deliver us to our schools, places of work, places of play, and most importantly, our homes. However, this network of trains, busses, and trolleys serve as more than just vehicles for people. They are conduits of exploration, family, and culture.

Since its inception SEPTA has vastly improved the daily experience of the urban pedestrian. But in recent years, ridership and maintenance have been on a steady decline. Subway platforms have grown ugly with trash and graffiti. Everything from trains and buses to token booths and advertisements are starting to show the scars of negligence. To counter-act this, SEPTA has been forced to increase prices and limit the number of vehicles being operated to cut costs. Unfortunately, this equation adds up to a negative experience for many riders of SEPTA. If we continue on this path of destruction, SEPTA will only grow worse and be forced to keep raising prices. And the people who will be hit hardest by this are those walking the line of poverty, a large percentage of daily SEPTA riders.

The solution to this is obvious: increase funding. But the more important question to ask is where this money will come from. It is simply immoral to tack this responsibility to those who are barely able to meet a level of sustenance. If SEPTA were to increase its prices, people will be less inclined to use it, and thus the cycle of degradation will continue. Luckily, there is a solution that will work, and you can be a part of it.

By implementing a one percent dedicated sales tax, we have the potential to save our transportation system. Now before you guffaw over the idea of someone telling you how taxes can be a good thing, think about this in realistic terms. That one percent means our trains and buses will run on time. Just one percent and the trash and graffiti will be wiped clean. One percent, and the SEPTA of today will be radically different.

It is on our shoulders to take care of this issue, and you can rest assured that with a dedicated tax, every penny will be directly placed in the trustworthy hands of SEPTA. We are all fighting for the same cause, and it is about time we come together, brother and sister, and turn our public transportation into something we can truly feel happy about riding.