Pennsylvania transportation centers are currently faced with a statewide funding crisis that could eventually lead to service cuts by the end of February.

Plans to increase funding for mass transit such as a realty tax, as well as taxes on tires, gasoline and car registration, have been discussed.

Rich Kirkpatrick, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) spokesman, said the South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) faces a $62 million deficit, while Allegheny Port Authority faces a $35 million deficit. Other transit agencies have a deficit of $3 million totaling about $100 million deficit for the entire state.

Hugh Mose, Central Area Transportation Authority (CATA) general manager said the costs of daily bus operations have increased steadily, while funding from the state has continued to decrease. "The state transit is in serious crisis," he said.

Mose said if CATA does not receive more funding from the state they will not be able to make ends meet and might need to cut their services by the end of February.

"There is certainly a crisis in transit," Rep. Keith McCall, D-Carbon, said. "The issue is that you have the [Allegheny] Port Authority and SEPTA operating with [about a] $130 million deficit."

He said if a comprehensive plan for increased funding for trains, buses and state highways is not enacted soon, fares will increase and services will be cut.

McCall said Gov. Ed Rendell is stressing a plan to be enacted by late February to avoid the crisis.

Don Houser, chief of staff for Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre, said he did not think a mass transportation crisis existed in the state.

"We don't believe there's a crisis statewide -- SEPTA is saying they'll have a debt and will need to cut services and raise fare," Houser said. "The state already sends over 80 percent of budgets for mass transit from taxpayers and now Gov. Rendell wants more."

He added that it is important for all legislators in Harrisburg to find out what needs to be done before using more taxpayer money.

"We should know what the problems are before the taxpayers are asked to bare the burden of paying over 80 percent of the budgets," Houser said.

Steve Miskin, a spokesman for House Majority Leader Sam Smith, R-Jefferson, said some of Rendell's interest in the project might stem from an interest in re-election.

"Gov. Rendell wants a $110 million tax increase -- that's nothing but a Band-Aid," Miskin said.

But Rendell spokeswoman Kate Philips said the entire state is facing a crisis in money for mass transit.

"In Centre County there's six million riders on mass transit each year," she said. "The system is just as crucial in rural areas as in metropolitan areas."

Philips said Rendell has met with and will continue to meet with legislative leaders to craft a solution for the mass transit crisis. "A half dozen proposals have come up, now we just need to search for the best solution," she said.

McCall said "class 3 cities" such as State College and Reading, have transit crises as well. "We need some sort of dedicated funding source," he said. "There will be a concerted effort to get proposals introduced -- it's a priority and needs to be dealt with."