The outpouring of humanity was inspiring. Young and old. Black and white. Poor and affluent. City and suburban dwellers.

No, this is not about voter turnout. We're referring to the men and women who showed up at Thursday's hearing on the painful changes coming to the Port Authority if the state's mass transit systems don't get a new funding formula.

Beginning in February, passengers will see the base fare jump from $1.75 to $2.50 and then in March suffer cuts that will eliminate weekend and holiday service, curtail nighttime runs and drop entire routes from the system.

This is no PR scare. The cutbacks will be real because of the Port Authority's $30 million operating shortfall this year and a looming deficit of $45 million in the 2005-06 budget. The culprit is not bad management or wild spending -- the transit system has been fiscally responsible in recent years, laying off employees, paring service and raising fares to balance difficult budgets.

The real monster is a state funding system that has not been reliable or sufficient to cover enough of the cost. Other transit systems in Pennsylvania, including SEPTA in the Philadelphia region, are faced with a similar crisis. And only the Legislature, which, in the waning days of its two-year session, may vote on a better funding formula, can head it off.

The proposal, which has bipartisan support, would increase the amount of the state sales tax that goes to more than 60 transit systems. But some lawmakers are not convinced that bus and rail service are important to a broad swath of Pennsylvanians. They should have attended Thursday's hearing.

An executive from PNC said that effective mass transit is essential for its Downtown work force. A vice president of Community College of Allegheny County complained that loss of service would prevent students from getting an education, pure and simple. Union leaders said many members who make modest wages have no choice but to take the bus to work. The head of the NAACP railed against the cutbacks, saying it would hinder the progress of those trying to move from welfare to work. The CEO of the Chamber of Commerce threatened that her organization would set up shop in Harrisburg to get results by the end of the session.

That's all very good. But it's not good enough.

The Legislature needs to hear from more workers, more business owners, more students, more taxpayers. The House and Senate need to hear from university presidents, sports team owners, store managers and houses of worship. Lawmakers need to know that well-funded mass transit is crucial to the basic function of society.

So choose a caucus leader, use the Web link or address and send an e-mail.

* House Majority Leader Sam Smith, Republican:

www.samsmithpahouse.com

* House Minority Leader Bill DeWeese, Democrat:

wdeweese@pahouse.net

* Senate Majority Leader David Brightbill, Republican:

dbrightbill@pasen.gov

* Senate Minority Leader Robert Mellow, Democrat:

www.senator-mellow.com/email2.htm

Tell him how you and others rely on mass transit. Tell him you want the Legislature to pass the funding formula in Senate Bill 1162 or House Bill 2697.

Then remind him that even though he may not represent you, others in the House and Senate do -- and that you vote.