Public transit services in the Lehigh Valley face uncertainty as the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA) considers its options amid a lack of state funding. While the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) secured a funding source to maintain its services in and around Philadelphia, LANTA has yet to follow suit.
Last week, both SEPTA and the Pittsburgh Rapid Transit gained approval from Governor Josh Shapiro to divert funds originally earmarked for capital projects to cover operating expenses. This decision aims to preserve existing services despite a budget impasse in the Pennsylvania Legislature regarding transit funding.
LANTA Executive Director Owen O’Neil stated on Monday that the agency has not submitted a similar request. “We have reached out to PennDOT to discuss what options are available to LANTA,” O’Neil told The Morning Call. He emphasized that LANTA is preparing for various scenarios, including the possibility of significant service reductions starting in January 2026 without new funding.
In May, LANTA released a draft budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on July 1, 2025. This budget does not factor in any additional state funding and proposes a 20% service cut along with a 25% fare increase on fixed routes and shared ride services for seniors. The draft budget also reveals an unfunded deficit of approximately $8 million for the bus system and an additional $3 million for shared ride services.
Proposed cuts could significantly impact service availability. If implemented, LANTA may reduce service after 7 p.m. daily, cut Saturday service by half, and eliminate 75% of Sunday service. Additionally, routes to northern destinations in the Valley, such as the Slate Belt, Walnutport, and Slatington, could be discontinued. Any service reductions would take effect in January.
The proposed budget outlines total operating costs of $66.8 million, which represents a $2.8 million increase from the previous year. The revenue sources for LANTA include $9.5 million from the federal government, $36.8 million from the state, and $1.4 million from local governments. LANTA projects revenue of over $3.5 million from individual fares, with approximately 4 million passengers utilizing the service annually. Additional revenue is generated through advertising on buses.
The lack of a funding agreement has prompted urgent discussions among state lawmakers. The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and the Republican-controlled Senate, alongside Governor Shapiro, continue to negotiate the 2025-26 budget, which is now months past the June 30 deadline.
Governor Shapiro recently directed state Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll to approve SEPTA’s request to use $394 million in capital assistance funds to prevent service cuts and restore previously suspended services. SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer acknowledged that while this is not a long-term solution to their $213 million budget deficit, it is essential for maintaining service stability. “Our riders deserve better, and they deserve stability,” Sauer stated.
As discussions around transit funding continue, the future of public transit services in the Lehigh Valley remains uncertain, with LANTA weighing its options for maintaining operations in the face of potential budgetary constraints.
