A Pennsylvania House committee on Wednesday voted down a bill passed in the Republican-controlled Senate that included mass transit funding, meaning it's likely back to square one for SEPTA a day before the beginning of what the transit authority says is a "doomsday scenario."

The vote was 18-15 along party lines in the Democratic-controlled House Rules Committee, and comes one day before SEPTA's deadline for when it will start the process of implementing 20% service cuts.

Senators passed an amendment to the bill, introduced by Republican state Sen. Joe Picozzi of Northeast Philadelphia, with a 27-22 vote along party lines Tuesday.

Republicans wanted to draw around $300 million a year for the next two years from the Pennsylvania Transit Trust Fund. Picozzi claimed the bill would be a "bridge" to fund SEPTA for the next two years while lawmakers work on a long-term solution.

House Democrats, SEPTA leaders and PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll came out against the plan Wednesday, arguing the GOP-backed plan would move capital dollars to operating, taking away funding for things like infrastructure upgrades. SEPTA also pointed to a need to replace its aging rail cars, which general manager Scott Sauer said are more than 50 years old.

"(The rail cars) are 50-plus years old. This goes back to the Nixon administration. We need to replace those cars. And that's just one example. Our entire rail fleet is due for replacement. And we have to exercise this capital program in a manner that keeps the system safe forever," Sauer said.

Whether the drawdown of funds would affect capital projects that are already planned has been a dispute between Republicans and Democrats. 

"There's a public transit trust fund that has a $2.4 billion balance. About half of that money is unencumbered. It's not set aside for specific capital projects," Sen. Frank A. Farry, a Republican who represents part of Bucks County, said. 

Democrats have opposed using that money to cover SEPTA's operating costs.

"By shifting money from capital expenses to operational expenses, you're actually defunding SEPTA," said Rep. Jordan A. Harris, a Democrat who chairs the Appropriations Committee.

House Democrats said sides need to get back to the table, while Republican leaders believe this was the right deal.

"We have said many times that we will look at a blend of revenues. We're not saying anything is off the table," Democratic state Rep. Matt Bradford, of Montgomery County, said. "But the test of the times we're dealing with is what does SEPTA need to make sure it can continue to operate safely and securely. The idea that we're going to cannibalize through stealing of capital money, the safety and security of the system, is foolhardy."

"The idea that dollars can't be flexed. The governor proved that," Republican Rep. Jesse Topper said. "You know how many shovel-ready projects were ready in rural Pennsylvania when those dollars got flexed to bail out SEPTA? We all acknowledge that mass transit is vital to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. But it has to be done within the context of an entire budget product."

In a statement released after Tuesday's vote, a spokesperson for Shapiro slammed Picozzi's proposal.

"While Gov. Shapiro appreciates Senate Republicans finally acknowledging the need to fund mass transit systems across the Commonwealth, this is clearly not a serious, long-term proposal that can pass both chambers," Shapiro's spokesperson said. "It's time to get back to the table and keep working at it."

For now, this leaves lawmakers with no deal on the table that can pass both chambers.

Sauer said the system will do everything it can to reverse cuts if funding is approved later. Meanwhile, Bradford said riders should be prepared for the changes.

SEPTA leaders previously said the state funding is needed by Thursday because the transit authority needs 10 days to adjust to the possible schedule change. The time will also be used to update the SEPTA app and other information, including digital signs, automated announcements and all bus and train marquees.   

It's unclear when the House or Senate will meet again to consider the issue.

SEPTA riders react to possible cuts 

An estimated 800,000 people use SEPTA daily. Riders who spoke to CBS News Philadelphia on Wednesday said their frustration is growing.

The cuts are set to begin one day before School District of Philadelphia students head back to class. 

"It's a tragedy," one person said. "There may be kids who have options, other people don't have anything. ... It's the life of the city, I think it'll bring the city down. There's not room for the cars, the people who live here and work here. It's not survivable, so they've got to come up with the funding somehow." 

Another rider said he can't afford to take Uber and Lyft and the cuts will slow him down.

What's next for SEPTA?

Without funding, SEPTA says it will have to: 

• Eliminate 32 bus routes
• Shorten 16 bus routes
• Reduce service on the 88 bus, Regional Rail and subway lines
• Cut five Regional Rail lines and the Broad-Ridge Spur subway
• Reduce all remaining services by 20%
• Add a 9 p.m. curfew on metro and Regional Rail service
• Cancel special service such as sports express trains
• Raise fares by 21.5% starting Sept. 1

Reduced Regional Rail service would begin Sept. 2. Trains would come between 20% to 50% less often, meaning during some parts of the weekdays, trains that ran every hour would run every two hours.