Republican House majority whip Stan Saylor is criticizing the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) for the agency’s decision this year to continue buying diesel-electric hybrid buses rather than CNG vehicles. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, State
Representative Saylor is threatening to punish SEPTA for move, saying he will do all he can to keep SEPTA from getting more federal funds from the transportation bill when passed unless the agency changes its management practices.
The Inquirer reports that SEPTA officials have defended their decision to buy fuel-efficient hybrid-diesel buses. The state provides 48 percent of SEPTA’s $1.3 billion operating budget. With a fleet of 1,400 buses, SEPTA is Pennsylvania’s largest transit system.