More SEPTA Changes Coming Monday, Tuesday

UPDATE: Judge Rules To Pause SEPTA Service Cuts, Fare Increase

PHILADELPHIA — SEPTA will implement more austerity measures next week as lawmakers in Harrisburg work to find a funding solution to the financially struggling transit authority.

Starting Monday, SEPTA will increase fares by 21.5 percent. This increase will affect riders across all SEPTA modes of transportation.

The new base fare for bus and metro trips will be $2.90 – tying New York's MTA for the highest in the country.

>>>>SEPTA Restoring Some Bus Routes For Student Transportation<<<

Then on Tuesday, new Regional Rail schedules will go into place, reflecting the 20 percent reduction in service.

SEPTA riders are encouraged to plan their travel using the trip planner feature online here or on the SEPTA app.

These two moves follow the elimination of 32 bus routes, shortened bus routes, and reduced service on trolleys and metro lines, all of which began 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 here.

"We are now at a place that none of us ever wanted to be," SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer said. "This week has been very difficult for our customers. Wait times between trips are longer and vehicles are more crowded, affecting thousands of people trying to get to work and school on time.”

SEPTA will also freeze all hiring on Monday.

This isn't the end of SEPTA's drastic cost-saving measures.

Come Jan. 1, SEPTA will eliminate five Regional Rail lines: Cynwyd Line, Chestnut Hill West Line, Paoli/Thorndale Line, Trenton Line, Wilmington/Newark Line.

The new year will also see 18 more bus route eliminations, and a 9 p.m. curfew on all remaining rail services. The latter is expected to have a major impact on events at the South Philadelphia sports complex.

"We are continuing to work with Governor Shapiro and legislative leaders as they negotiate a funding solution," Sauer said. "It was encouraging to see proposals from the House and Senate earlier this month that share a number of points of agreement. We are urging everyone to continue to build on this common ground in an effort to get a transit funding agreement done."