Transportation Cuts, Hike In Rates Could Hit NJ In Coming Days

Travelers in the Tri-State area are going to get hit with a major change to thousands of daily routines and wallets over the next few weeks.

SEPTA is set to shut down service, adjust schedules and impose higher ticket costs if lawmakers don't approve the funds to answer a $213 million budget gap by August 14. Both the Trenton Line and the West Trenton Line through New Jersey will be affected. A group of five bus routes that run through Bucks County, Pennsylvania's will also be discontinued.

In total, service will be slashed by 20% across SEPTA's platforms. If no deal is reached by August 14, the process of adjusting bus and metro services will begin and take effect on August 24. This will be carried out over a two-day period with the remaining cuts going into effect on August 25. Regional rail service adjustments will go into effect on September 2.

On September 1, a fare increase that averages out to 21.5 percent for all riders will be implemented. SEPTA says they will also be forced to enforce a complete hiring freeze later next month. A second wave of cuts on January 1, 2026 will include the elimination of five Regional Rail Lines, a 9 p.m. curfew on all rail services, and the elimination of 18 bus routes which will amount to an overall 45 percent reduction in service. Additional cuts will be in the plans for the next few years.

Changes to Trenton Line

Taking Effect On September 2:

• Midday service reduced to only every two hours
• Some peak and evening rides eliminated
• Weekend service moves to every two hours

Taking Effect In January 2026:

• All service eliminated
• Route 66 will give connecting service to the L
• Route 129 will give some service in Bucks County
• West Trenton Line to give a regional rail alternative until 9 p.m.

Changes to West Trenton Line

Taking Effect On September 2:

• Weekday rides move to hourly
• Weekend service moves to every two hours
• Some evening rides and one weekend slot will be eliminated

Taking Effect In January 2026:

• No Regional Rail operations beyond 9 p.m.
• Reduced weekday and weekend rides that begin in August 2025 will continue

“Our planning and operations staff have worked hard to compress the timeline for pre-schedule change work, but we cannot push it beyond Aug. 14,” added Scott A. Sauer, SEPTA's General Manager. “If funding is not secured by then, these painful service cuts will go into effect on Aug. 24.”

“At that point, we will be left with no other choice but to begin dismantling the SEPTA system. Tens of thousands of people or more will be left with no viable public transportation options.”

SEPTA says they will also be forced to stop all special services, such as the Sports Express line that takes fans to and from the South Philadelphia Sports Complex during major events.

According to a study by The Delaware Regional Planning Commission, an additional 2 million daily vehicle miles will be traveled in Philadelphia and its four bordering counties if the proposed cuts go through. Commutes would also be 30 percent longer on two key highways that run through the region, and highway congestion would increase with at least 275,000 more cars hitting the road daily.

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