The Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities held a hearing “examining the status of transit mobility and access for Philadelphia’s students and the expansion of the SEPTA Student Fare Program.”
Councilmember Rue Landau, the author of the resolution, said the city was missing the mark when it came to giving students opportunities to use the public transit system.
“For students who have two working parents, a single working parent, or other scenarios, it can be challenging to provide transportation,” Landau said. “We need to explore solutions to help our students get around so they have access to all of the opportunities Philly has to offer, and universal student fairs could be part of that solution.”
Currently, the school district provides some sort of transportation for students who live 1.5 miles from their school. This can take the form of school buses or, in most cases, passes from SEPTA via the Student Fare Program, which includes nearly 60,000 district students at a cost of just over $30 million. The district pays the cost upfront, but is then reimbursed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The City of Philadelphia does not contribute to this program.
School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington said the program includes eligible seventh through twelfth graders. Expansion to all students would more than double the cost, estimated to be almost $64 million.
“The School District supports the underlying goals of expanding Student Fare Card eligibility,” Watlington said. “The reality, however, is that these changes dramatically increase the cost of the Student Fare Card program.”
Councilmember Landau questioned Erik Johanson, SEPTA’s Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, on the logic of how SEPTA tallies rides and bills the District. Any student who taps their card once a month to ride a bus or train automatically sets into motion a billing process that sees the District incur an $88 monthly fee. If the student does not use their card in a month, the bill is not processed and the fee is not collected. Students can use their cards up to eight times per day, which, if they did so, would be the equivalent of $23.20 per day.
“Are you saying that if a student taps their card once in a month, the School District owes you $88.60?” Landau asked. When that was confirmed, Landau took issue with the practice. “That is ludicrous. It’s a $2.90 ride with a 25% discount.”
Landau mentioned that she uses her City-issued card once a month, the charge is only $2.90.
In the month of October, if a student used their card to only get back and forth to school, the total cost without the reduced rate would be $116.
City-Owned Grocery Store Legislation
On behalf of Council President Johnson, Councilmember Nicholas O’Rourke introduced a resolution “authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings to examine the feasibility of establishing City-supported grocery stores through public-private and community partnerships to expand access to affordable, nutritious, and high-quality food in Philadelphia neighborhoods.”
The concept is mentioned in both Johnson’s Food and Nutrition legislative package and O’Rourke’s Affordability agenda, and would help address “significant challenges in accessing affordable, nutritious, and high-quality food.” Area food prices have increased by 35% over the last seven years, while wages have not increased and have been negatively impacted by inflation. Further pressure has been brought to bear by increase in utility costs.
While there are organizations in the city dedicated to helping provide food to those in need, a sizable gap still exists between what is needed and what is available. City-supported grocery stores could be placed in areas of the city devoid of commercial stores.
Lozada Call for Charter School Hearing
Councilmember Quetcy Lozada introduced a resolution “authorizing the Committee on Education to hold public hearings to examine the state of charter education in Philadelphia, including charter school funding, authorization and renewal practices, and the role charter schools play in providing educational opportunities for Philadelphia students and families.”
According to the resolution, 64,469 students are enrolled in City charter schools, which are semi-public institutions chartered by the School District to receive public money with little district oversight.
The resolution also mentions the inadequate funding all Pennsylvania schools receive from the Commonwealth, which puts disadvantaged districts like Philadelphia’s further behind more affluent communities.
This Week’s Committee Hearings
The Committee on Streets and Services met to hear testimony on the following legislation:
Bill No. 250649
An Ordinance Amending Section 12-701 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled
“Designation of Bicycle Lanes,” to authorize a bicycle lane and removal of a travel
lane around City Hall, under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 260566
An Ordinance Authorizing various encroachments in the vicinity of 6238 Bustleton
Avenue, under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 260609
An Ordinance Amending Section 12-701 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled
“Designation of Bicycle Lanes,” to authorize a bicycle lane and removal of parking on
Roberts Avenue from Henry Avenue to King Street, under certain terms and
conditions.
Bill No. 260641
An Ordinance Adding a new Chapter 12-1800 to The Philadelphia Code,
entitled “Temporary No Parking Restrictions and Relocation Towing,” to
restrict use of temporary no parking signs; create a system for the
application for and issuance of permits for the use of temporary no parking
signs; provide for violations for parking at locations restricted by such
signs and relocation towing in connection with such violations; and
establish restrictions related to such relocation towing, all under certain
terms and conditions.
Bill No. 260692
An Ordinance Amending Section 9-208 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Sidewalk
Cafés,” to authorize additional locations for sidewalk cafés, all under certain terms
and conditions.
Bill No. 260693
An Ordinance Authorizing encroachments in the nature of a sidewalk café in the
vicinity of 4201 Manayunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA, under certain terms and
conditions.
Bill No. 260705
An Ordinance Authorizing the installation of all-way stop signs at the intersection of
Pine Road and Susquehanna Road.
Bill No. 260706
An Ordinance Authorizing an encroachment in the nature of a staircase in the vicinity of
319-25 N 11th St, Philadelphia, PA, under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 260707
An Ordinance Authorizing encroachments in the nature of a sidewalk café in the
vicinity of 544 E. Girard Ave., under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 260758
An Ordinance Regulating the placement of a truck loading zone on S. 23rd Street
between South Street and Naudain Street, all under certain terms and conditions.
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