SEPTA Faces Fare Hikes and Service Cuts Amid Budget Crisis

SEPTA will increase fares and reduce services to address a $213 million shortfall, a move that could reshape Philadelphia’s transit system without state intervention. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Starting September 1, base fares will rise 21.5% to $2.90, equaling New York’s MTA for the highest fare in the country. This change coincides with the first wave of service reductions, including the removal of 32 bus routes and trimmed rail services in August.

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A second round of cuts will hit on January 1, 2026. It will eliminate five Regional Rail lines and limit remaining rail operations to a 9 p.m. curfew, reducing overall service by 45%.

SEPTA Budget Measures Could Disrupt Regional Mobility

SEPTA officials said they exhausted all internal cost-saving strategies, including freezing management salaries, which saved over $30 million. But those steps fell short of closing the fiscal gap.

Board Chair Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. stated the board had no choice, emphasizing the urgency of new state funding to prevent the transit system’s collapse. “This doesn’t have to happen if lawmakers act fast,” he said.

Rising inflation, the end of federal pandemic relief, and increasing safety-related costs have pushed SEPTA into crisis. The agency says its ability to maintain reliable service is on the brink.

SEPTA Cuts Threaten Jobs, Access, and Economic Stability

State Representative Mary Jo Daley warned the cuts could trigger a “death spiral” for public transit, forcing more people into cars and worsening road congestion across the region.

General Manager Scott A. Sauer added that dismantling core services would damage the local economy and social equity. “Once this unraveling begins, it will be nearly impossible to reverse,” he said.

Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed transit funding plan could stop these cuts. The Pennsylvania House has already passed related legislation, but lawmakers must finalize a deal before July 1.

If the state fails to act, SEPTA’s future as Philadelphia’s transportation backbone—and its role in economic growth—will remain uncertain.

Source: MyChesCo

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