Drastic SEPTA Cuts Start Sunday: What You Need To Know

PHILADELPHIA — Major cuts to SEPTA service will begin Sunday after lawmakers in Harrisburg fail to reach funding deals for the financially embattled transit authority.

Bus, subway, and trolley services will be reduced by 20 percent Sunday and Monday.

The cuts and fare increases were proposed in response to a $213 million budget gap, which stems from a combination of the end of federal COVID relief funding and increases in the day-to-day costs of providing service to customers. SEPTA is also grappling with the impact of inflation on everyday necessities such as fuel, power and supplies.

Efforts to stave off the funding crisis led SEPTA to take on aggressive austerity measures, including a freeze on management pay and cuts to third-party consultants, have resulted in savings of $30 million. Other measures, including a 7.5 percent fare increase and the resumption of paid parking at Regional Rail lots, are generating new revenue.

Pennsylvania Legislature was unable to strike a deal that the Democrat-controlled House and the Republican controlled-Senate could agree on earlier this month.

SEPTA riders are encouraged to use the trip planner feature online here and the SEPTA app to prepare for traveling as the cuts go into effect.

Here are the changes riders can expect:

On Sunday, SEPTA will eliminate 32 bus routes. They are:

• 1
• 8
• 12
• 19
• 30
• 31
• 35
• 47M
• 50
• 62
• 73
• 78
• 80
• 88
• 89
• 91
• 106
• 120
• 126
• 133
• 150
• 201
• 204
• 206
• 311
• BLVDDIR
• 452
• 461
• 462
• 476
• 478
• 484

Sixteen bus routes will also be shortened. They are:

• 2
• 3
• 5
• 7
• 9
• 17
• 27
• 43
• 61
• 84
• 115
• 124
• 125
• 433
• 441
• 495

>>>RELATED: If You See This Sign, That Means Your SEPTA Route Is Slated For Elimination<<<

Dozens of other routes will have reduced service. They are:

Buses

• 4
• 6
• 16
• 18
• 20
• 21
• 23
• 25
• 26
• 28
• 29
• 32
• 33
• 37
• 38
• 39
• 40
• 42
• 44
• 45
• 46
• 47
• 48
• 49
• 51 (L)
• 52
• 53
• 54
• 56
• 57
• 58
• 59
• 60
• 63 (G)
• 64
• 65
• 66
• 67
• 70
• 71 (H)
• 79
• 81 (XH)
• 82 (R)
• 93
• 96
• 98
• 99
• 103
• 104
• 108
• 109
• 110
• 111
• 112
• 113
• 114
• 117
• 118
• 123,
• 131
• K
• B1 OWL
• L1 OWL

Subways and trolleys

• B1 [BSL]
• B2 [BSL]
• B3 [BSL]
• L [MFL]
• D1 [101]
• D2 [102]
• T1 [10]
• T2 [34]
• T3 [13]
• T4 [11]
• T5 [36]
• G1 [15]

Metro line reductions include eliminating special express service for sports, concerts and major events.

Then on Sept. 1, SEPTA will increase fares by an average of 21.5 percent. The new base fare for Bus and Metro trips will be $2.90.

Sept. 2 will see cuts to all Regional Rail lines, leading to fewer scheduled weekday trains on most lines, and most weekend service reduced from hourly to every two hours. This will lead to reductions in trips on all routes, longer commute times, and more crowded trains, SEPTA said.

Come January 2026, SEPTA will eliminate five Regional Rail lines: Cynwyd Line, Chestnut Hill West Line, Paoli/Thorndale Line, Trenton Line, Wilmington/Newark Line.

And, the new year will bring about a 9 p.m. curfew for all rail services.

SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer said in early August that SEPTA "will be left with no other choice but to begin dismantling the SEPTA system" on Jan. 1, 2026.

"Tens of thousands of people or more will be left with no viable public transportation options," he said.