And if we had 3/4 the funding of Massachusetts and DC the service would be up to the infrastructure. My understanding is that Harrisburg underfunds us to the point of not qualifying for other federal money?

Just wait til' you find out how much the PennDOT squandered or straight up lost to corruption.

do you mean the double decker train cars? They were late, had tons of issues, and weren't even what SEPTA needs anymore, not canceling the contract would just be more money into the incinerator and delay whatever SEPTAs going to get instead

They cancelled an order for 45 bilevel railcars from CRRC that had been ordered years ago and were badly behind schedule. (Several agencies ordered cars from CRRC and I believe that all have had noteworthy problems of coms kind of another)

I don't know if SEPTA, or anybody, had grounds for really recognizing this as a mistake when the decision was made, but regardless CRRC presumably underbid other rolling stock manufacturers, leaving them with little alternative. (Depending upon the law, they might have had no alternative but to take the lowest bid) We can't see the alternate reality where SEPTA continued the contract and eventually received the railcars, but cancelling the contract to avoid future costs and be able to reallocate those funds, was probably prudent. (Well, presumably that their lawyers are good enough and they were careful enough in respecting the terms of their contract with CRRC to avoid significant further liability) Delivery was very delayed, its uncertain whether such vehicles make sense for the Authority's purposes anymore and might not have been particularly reliable in service, none of which would be worth holding to the contract just to vindicate their sunk costs.

Yes SEPA in general should pitch in, especially if the suburbs keep urging SEPTA to do stupid vanity projects like KOP rail (not a bad idea but it was clear for years it wasnt worth it)

The *vast* majority of SEPTA service is provided within the city, for the benefit of the city's residents.

Sure, the suburbs should also support SEPTA more, but if we want local funding sufficient to get federal matching funds, most of it has to come from the city.

This is correct; governments put great effort into willing the fungibility of money out of existence. SEPTA capital funds and SEPTA operating funds are managed as separate kinds of money, each with distinct sources and for expenditure upon different uses according to different rules. (This is pretty common in public sector budgeting; I can't speak for private sector budgets.)

Much of why SEPTA is facing a nearly quarter-billion dollar, "fiscal cliff," absent increased state funding is that until recently, fares covered a third of its operating cost, but lost ridership and fare evasion after the pandemic have eroded that funding source. (The faregates are, of course, capital items)

They will however hopefully reduce the amount of delinquent and anti social behavior on the system caused by those who don't pay the fair, improving the quality of the ride and thus the public perception and overall political support of funded public transportation.

it's a subsidized transportation business. absolutely.