KING OF PRUSSIA, PA—On Wednesday, Montgomery County Commissioners were joined by King of Prussia business executives, labor leaders, and transit advocates to reaffirm the call for action on the proposed SEPTA service cuts. The potential elimination of dozens of bus lines and reduced rail service will starve businesses of both customers and employees, cut off access to job opportunities, and stall economic momentum in the King of Prussia area.
“We know we’re about to run out of time. Budget negotiations are well under way – Harrisburg is working on it as we speak,” said Neil K. Makhija, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “This is not just for Southeast Pennsylvania; it’s for the entire Commonwealth. King of Prussia is so central to our economy here. It’s a generator of jobs for the entire region, and tax revenue for the entire Commonwealth. This is what we’re emphasizing to the folks in Harrisburg: Whether you ride SEPTA or not, you benefit from it.”
“What happens to King of Prussia if there’s no transportation? We lose commerce and business. We lose tax revenue. We lose jobs. We lose people’s livelihoods,” said Jamila H. Winder, Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “We lose a thriving community where people come from near and far to spend their time and their money. King of Prussia is a national destination, but without public transit, it’s a destination out of reach for so many.”
The Commissioners were joined by business representatives from the King of Prussia area, including Eric Goldstein, President of the King of Prussia Business Improvement District, and Bob Hart, General Manager of the King of Prussia Mall.
“We deeply value our partnership with SEPTA and recognize the critical role it serves in helping the King of Prussia mall. There are over 7,000 employees who work at the mall. 25% of them rely on taking SEPTA to work every day,” said Bob Hart, General Manager of the King of Prussia Mall. “Any potential service reductions will directly impact these hardworking individuals and could create significant challenges for our businesses, ultimately impacting the entire area.”
Hart also highlighted the increased visitation to Southeast Pennsylvania in 2026 during the FIFA World Cup, PGA Open, and America250 celebrations: “Eyes are going to be on us. A well-functioning public transportation system like SEPTA becomes even more important.”
Cheryl Gebeline-Myers, VP of Operations at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Middleman Family Pavilion in King of Prussia, highlighted the potential disruption to healthcare in the region: “The most vulnerable members of the community – those who are sick and those with limited resources will be hit hardest – but the impact will extend to everyone. At CHOP we strongly support SEPTA and the broader public transit infrastructure. Reliable and accessible transportation connects children to necessary healthcare, employees to jobs, and supports the healthcare community.”
The Commissioners were also joined by local business, labor and transit representatives, including employees of Clean Logic, an inclusive employer based in Audubon, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association, who all emphasized the importance of SEPTA to the local economy and workforce.
Photos are available here.
A recorded livestream of the event is available here.
Media Contact: Megan Alt, megan.alt@montgomerycountypa.gov
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