Ride-Sharing Stressed In Lower Bucks Co. Over SEPTA Cuts

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Bucks County's transportation agency is urging commuters to use ride-sharing as an alternative for daily travel with SEPTA service cuts now in effect.

TMA Bucks, the Bensalem-based agency, encourages commuters to take advantage of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s (DVRPC) Share-A-Ride database to explore reliable commuting options and trip planning assistance.

The free online service helps commuters find alternatives that fit their schedules and locations, including carpooling, vanpooling, and other transit connections.

Share-A-Ride not only reduces stress for travelers dealing with reduced service but also helps save money, cut travel time, and lessen traffic congestion, TMA Bucks said.

Click here to check out the database

“Now more than ever, Bucks County commuters need dependable and flexible ways to get where they need to go,” said Stephen J. Noll, executive director of TMA Bucks. “With SEPTA service reductions creating real challenges for families and workers, the Share-A-Ride program offers a practical solution that keeps our community moving and helps everyone stay connected to their jobs, schools, and daily lives.”

The site also includes a trip planner to find rides for a daily commute and show public transit, biking, and other options if available.

Share-A-Ride also incentivizes commuters who sign up and record their trips on the Share-A-Ride trip calendar to earn points that can be redeemed for gift card drawing entries, restaurant coupons, retailer discounts, and tickets to shows and attractions. Users can even set up recurring trips to automatically record to a trip calendar.

The Pennsylvania Legislature was unable to strike a deal that the Democrat-controlled House and the Republican controlled-Senate could agree on, leaving SEPTA and its roughly 770,000 daily riders in the dust.

Starting Sunday, 32 bus routes were eliminated, and 16 will be shortened.

A 21.5 percent fare increase will be implemented on Monday, as will a complete hiring freeze for all SEPTA jobs.

Should SEPTA still remain in the red, more austerity measures will be implemented Jan. 1, 2026, including the reduction of five regional rail lines.

There will be a significant reduction in trips on all rail services, an end to all special service including the Sports Express, 18 additional bus route eliminations, and a 9 p.m. curfew for all rail services.

The cutbacks will include the elimination of these regional rail lines: Cynwyd Line, Chestnut Hill West Line, Paoli/Thorndale Line, Trenton Line, Wilmington/Newark Line.