June 5, 2025
Philadelphia, PA – As SEPTA continues its critical push for funding in Harrisburg, Chair Thomas Pyle and the rest of the SEPTA YAC briefed newly appointed SEPTA CEO and General Manager Scott Sauer on their accomplishments in the first half of 2025. This marked the first time the YAC addressed GM Sauer, providing an opportunity to reflect on their impactful work and highlight the key issues they are tackling to encourage greater youth engagement with the transit system in the Philadelphia region.
During the presentation, Chair Pyle outlined a wide range of accomplishments achieved over the past five months. These include major organizational milestones such as securing 501(c)(3) nonprofit status from the IRS and providing each council member with personalized @septayac.org email addresses. The YAC also launched a fully redesigned website at septayac.org, featuring new pages such as Stories in Transit, a Legislative Tracking Center, and a YAC News Update section.
In addition to internal improvements, the Council strengthened external partnerships. They hosted members of the youth advocacy team from Transit Alternatives NYC, offering them a tour of Philadelphia and a discussion on shared advocacy efforts. The YAC also spearheaded the Haverford Campaign, an initiative serving as a model for encouraging more universities to join SEPTA’s University Pass Program (UPASS).
Council members actively participated in two Vision Zero roundtables hosted by the City of Philadelphia and submitted detailed feedback on SEPTA’s proposed FY 2025–2026 budget. Currently, the YAC is advancing the Kids Save SEPTA campaign, led by member Jay, to raise awareness about how potential service cuts could impact the region’s young people and future workforce as the budget fight nears its conclusion.
Chair Pyle also shared future plans with GM Sauer. With their new nonprofit status, the YAC aims to pursue grant funding to support larger-scale campaigns. Upcoming initiatives include expanded tabling at universities to promote the UPASS program, a Stories in Transit campaign that will collect and showcase stories from students across Southeastern Pennsylvania, and a new SEPTA Speaker Series highlighting the voices and experiences of SEPTA employees.
Finally, the YAC is incredibly proud of member Christian Szalwinski, who received an official SEPTA Recognition Award for his leadership in organizing a successful community cleanup in the Frankford Transit Center neighborhood. His Philly Spring Cleanup event brought together more than 60 volunteers and helped beautify the area. Congratulations, Christian!
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