Medical students and advocates urge council to protect SEPTA 0Fare funding and back Transit Access Fund

A medical student, community-college faculty and other witnesses urged City Council to preserve funding for SEPTA's 0Fare program for low-income Philadelphia residents and to support legislation that would create a dedicated municipal revenue stream for transit access.

"SEPTA is the safety net of our city," medical student Emily Hasham said in public testimony. Hasham said she has enrolled hundreds of patients in the 0Fare program while working in neighborhood clinics and argued the program is essential to access medical care, employment and schooling. She noted press reports that the mayor had considered defunding the program and said a city-level financing mechanism would provide stability.

Hasham referenced legislation introduced by Councilman Brendan O'Rourke, described in testimony as the Philadelphia Transit Access Fund, which she called a way to "solidify SEPTA 0Fare as a permanent way in which the City of Philadelphia can help its constituents." Dr. Sarah Goldrick-Rab, a community-college professor and board chair of a local anti-gun-violence nonprofit, separately urged council to include $2 million in the people's budget for free SEPTA passes to support community-college students.

Speakers tied transit access to educational and health outcomes and asked council to avoid any cuts that would disrupt current service. The comments were part of a wider public hearing on the mayor's FY26 operating proposal; council will consider funding language and possible dedicated revenue proposals during committee markup and appropriation votes.