SEPTA Fare Hikes, Service Declines Coming

PHILADELPHIA REGION —SEPTA commuters may see fare hikes and service declines as the transportation authority announced Thursday a "massive structural budget deficit" with it facing a $213 million budget gap.

SEPTA — which offers regional rail service throughout Bucks and Montgomery counties — said the deficit will require 45 percent in service cuts, as well as a fare increase averaging 21.5 percent for all riders.

Among the service cuts would be the elimination of dozens of bus routes and significant reductions in trips on all rail services, beginning with the launch of fall schedules on Aug. 24.

Fifty bus routes would be shut down between Aug. 24 and Jan. 1, 2026, SEPTA said.

The fare hike would go into effect Sept. 1.

"Public transportation makes all the difference economically in Bucks County, the Philadelphia region, and throughout Pennsylvania," said TMA Bucks Executive Director Stephen J. Noll. "For many, it is the difference between relying on welfare and being able to access gainful employment. For some, it makes the difference between locating a new business and the jobs it brings in our area instead of in another state. For others, it is the difference between being able to shop, dine, and play in the community and being stuck at home in isolation. It keeps thousands of cars off of roadways, allowing for faster movement of goods and services. There is simply no question that the revenues and economic activity that result from a well-funded and useful public transportation system far outweigh the Commonwealth's investment in systems statewide. TMA Bucks, therefore, stands firmly with SEPTA and public transit providers throughout Pennsylvania in urging the state legislature to approve funding for public transportation as requested by Governor Shapiro. Furthermore, we encourage our lawmakers to work diligently to ensure that the Commonwealth's public transportation funding is sustainable and adjustable for inflation as a means to prevent future crises such as this."

Additionally, the deficit is pushing SEPTA to reduce its workforce and institute a 9 p.m. curfew for all rail services. This curfew would begin Jan. 1, 2026, the same time it would eliminate five Regional Rail lines.

• The elimination of five Regional Rail lines — Cynwyd Line, Chestnut Hill West Line, Paoli/ThorndaleLine, Trenton Line, Wilmington/Newark Line.

"We know how critical service is to our customers and the region, and we have done everything possible to avoid the drastic measures that are proposed in this budget," SEPTA's Interim General Manager Scott A. Sauer said. "We have made significant progress in cutting costs, growing ridership, improving reliability and delivering on safety and security enhancements. All of that is at risk if we are forced to start dismantling the system."

These drastic measures will be implemented to address a massive structural budget deficit during the new fiscal year that starts July 1, officials said.

The release of the budget comes amid critical negotiations in Harrisburg on a statewide transit funding plan introduced in February by Gov. Josh Shapiro that would prevent these dire measures from taking effect.

The impact of the proposed service cuts would be felt throughout Philadelphia and its suburbs, as reliable options for everyday travel to school and work are greatly diminished, officials said. And they said it would not stop there.

Gov. Josh Shapiro provided SEPTA riders with a lifeline last fall when he flexed federal highway funds to fill the current year’s budget gap. That, however, was a one-time measure.

"These cuts to SEPTA’s service —which would hurt our economy and make it harder for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians to get to work, school, and wherever else they need to go —are completely avoidable," Shapiro said. "For two years in a row, I have proposed a commonsense plan to support mass transit all across the Commonwealth and last December, I flexed funding to give the legislature more time to come to the table. The state House has passed my proposal three times and plans to do so again next month – it is now squarely on the state Senate to come to the table and pass more funding for mass transit that their own constituents rely on."

Beyond regular riders, people traveling to games at the Sports Complex and other special events would have to navigate the 9 p.m. curfew for rail services, along with other restrictions.

SEPTA would also be forced to cease providing additional service to special events, including plans to support the World Cup, the nation’s 250th-anniversary celebrations, and other 2026 events, according to officials.

The effects on businesses, including the region’s healthcare systems that rely on SEPTA to transport employees and patients, would be immediate and far-reaching, SEPTA said Thursday. Authorities also said roadway congestion will get worse, as people who typically use SEPTA would switch to driving.

SEPTA said it is facing this budget gap due to 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 required by law to pass a balanced Operating Budget before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, and its only options to close such a massive structural deficit are to raise fares and cut costs by eliminating services and reducing the size of its workforce.

SEPTA will hold four public hearings about the Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget at SEPTA Headquarters on May 19 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., and at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on May 20. The Capital Budget hearings will be held on May 21 at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The public can also submit comments by email at operatingbudget@septa.org and capbudget@septa.org, voicemail by calling 215-580-7772 for Operating Budget and 215-580-7771 for Capital Budget, or by mailing SEPTA Budgets, 1234 Market Street, 9th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
All comments must be submitted by May 28.

SEPTA plans to review public feedback before the Operating and Capital Budget proposals are sent to the SEPTA Board for a vote on June 26.

The spending plan would go into effect with the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.