Judge Rules To Pause SEPTA Service Cuts, Fare Increase

PHILADELPHIA, PA — A Philadelphia judge has granted a temporary injunction following an emergency hearing on SEPTA's upcoming fare increase and service cuts, according to a report.

The injunction means the 21.5 percent fare increase that was supposed to go into effect on Monday is now on hold, Action News reported. It also pauses the new Regional Rail schedules that were set to start on Tuesday, pending another hearing on Sept. 4.

The injunction also blocks any additional route eliminations, service reductions, curfews, special service eliminations and station closures.

"The judge wants us to keep service at the levels we're running today. That's going to take a lot of effort. We know we need 10 days to turn this around. We're going to take a look at how best we can comply with that order," SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer told Action News.

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The judge's order came just days after SEPTA announced it would implement more austerity measures as lawmakers in Harrisburg work to find a funding solution to the financially struggling transit authority.

The 21.5 percent fare increase would have affected riders across all SEPTA modes of transportation, bringing the new base fare for bus and metro trips to $2.90 – tying New York's MTA for the highest in the country.

Meanwhile, the proposed new Regional Rail schedules would have reflected a 20 percent reduction in service.

SEPTA also said it plans to freeze all hiring starting Monday.

The proposed cost savings followed the elimination of 32 bus routes, shortened bus routes and reduced service on trolleys and metro lines, all of which began on Aug. 24 and Aug. 25 as the School District of Philadelphia welcomed students back for the 2025-26 academic year.

See details on those reductions online.

On Jan. 1, SEPTA also planned to eliminate five Regional Rail lines, cut an additional 18 bus routes, and impose a 9 p.m. curfew on all remaining rail services. The latter was expected to have a major impact on events at the South Philadelphia sports complex.

The judge's injunction came after a lawsuit was filed earlier this week by attorney George Bochetto, Action News reported.

"The judge has stopped any further cutbacks. No more phase one implementation and certainly no more phase two implementation. She said she's heard enough," Bochetto said.