SEPTA’s funding crisis: how would you be impacted by new proposed cuts and fare increases?

PHILADELPHIA (WPHL) — If SEPTA doesn’t get funding to fill a $213 million budget deficit, the transit agency says it would have to take “drastic steps to irreversibly shrink the system.” Those proposed steps include no Metro or Regional Rail services after 9 p.m.; eliminating 50 bus routes, 5 Regional Rail lines, and all special service (sports, concerts, and major events); reducing service on all remaining routes by 20%; and increasing fares by 21.5%.

Jump to section:

• Overview
• Timeline
• Proposed changes
  • Service reductions
    • August 2025
    • January 2026
  • Fares
• Regional impact
• Comparing funding from other peer transit agencies
• How has SEPTA responded to the funding crisis so far?
• What’s next?

Overview

According to SEPTA, the transit agency is facing a budget gap because of federal COVID relief funds ending and increasing day-to-day costs. While ridership has recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency says it has had to take on additional costs to “address emerging challenges – particularly crime, disorder and the vulnerable population.” SEPTA is also feeling the impact of inflation on fuel, power, and supplies.

Timeline of proposed changes

Proposed changes

Service reductions

August 2025 proposed changes

• 32 Routes Eliminated
  • Bus: 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
• 16 Routes Shortened
  • Bus: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 17, 27, 43, 61, 84, 115, 124, 125, 433, 441, 495
• 88 Routes with Reduced Service
  • Bus: 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
  • Metro: BSL [B1, B2, B3], MFL [L,] 101 [D1], 102 [D2], 10 [T1], 34 [T2], 13 [T3], 11 [T4], 36 [T5], 15 [G1]
  • Regional Rail: Airport Line, Chestnut Hill East Line, Chestnut Hill West Line, Cynwyd Line, Fox Chase Line, Landsdale/Doylestown Line, Media/ Wawa Line, Manayunk/Norristown Line, Paoli/Thorndale Line, Trenton Line, Warminster Line, Wilmington/Newark Line, West Trenton Line
• All special services (sports, concerts, major events) eliminated

January 2026 proposed changes

• 24 More Routes Eliminated
  • Bus: 28, 32, 44, 77, 90, 92, 95, 103, 118, 127, 128, 132, B1 OWL, L1 OWL, 446, 447, 448, 490
  • Metro: BSL B3
  • Regional Rail: Cynwyd Line, Chestnut Hill West Line, Paoli/Thorndale Line, Trenton Line, Wilmington/Newark Line
• 2 Trolleys Become Buses
  • Metro: 10 [T1], 15 [G1]
• 9 pm Curfew on All Remaining Metro & Regional Rail Lines
  • Metro: BSL [B1, B2], MFL [L], NHSL [M], 101 [D1], 102 [D2], 34 [T2], 13 [T3], 11 [T4], 36 [T5]
  • Regional Rail: Airport Line, Chestnut Hill East Line, Fox Chase Line, Lansdale/Doylestown Line, Media/Wawa Line, Manayunk/Norristown Line, Warminster Line, West Trenton Line

Fares

SEPTA says that without a solution, the agency would be forced to move forward with another fare increase proposal. This would follow a December 2024 increase.

Under this new proposal, rates would be increased by more than 20%, which, according to SEPTA, would lead to the highest fares in the country.

Regional impact

According to SEPTA, fare increases and service reductions would make Southeastern Pennsylvania enter a “death spiral.”

Without legislative action, the transit agency warns the “irreversible shrinking” of SEPTA’s system would produce:

• $19.9 billion loss in household property values
• 76,700 potential jobs lost, with $6.0 billion in potential earnings lost
• $11.4 billion loss in tax revenue collections
• $674 million annual tax revenue loss to the region and Pennsylvania

SEPTA estimates the “total social cost” of the service cuts and fare increases to $267 million annually. The agency says this will lead to decreased safety, increased CO2 emissions, increased vehicle ownership cost, and increased transit fares.

Deep service cuts and fare hikes would also impact those who do not ride SEPTA: the agency warns of worse congestion on local roadways as riders switch to driving.

Comparing funding from other peer transit agencies

SEPTA says it was created to maintain the region’s transit infrastructure but has never been given adequate funding to achieve that. According to the transit agency, it has received between one-half and one-third the level of funding compared to peer agencies:

Underinvestment, SEPTA claims, has resulted in an “untenable situation” because long-overdue investments in aging infrastructure can no longer be delayed. With the budget proposal, SEPTA says it is forced to delay and defer $2 billion worth of projects and leave other critical projects partially funded.

How has SEPTA responded to the funding crisis so far?

Leading up to Thursday’s press conference, the transit agency says it has taken the following measures to address the budget deficit:

• September 2024: fare increases proposed
• September 2024: parking fees reinstated
• December 2024: 7.5% fare increase takes effect
• Freeze on management pay
• Cuts to third-party consultants

What’s next?

SEPTA says to avoid service cuts and drastic fare increases, the State must approve a budget that would “enable SEPTA to maintain service levels while implementing modest fare increases.”

The transit agency will hold four public hearings about the Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget at SEPTA Headquarters (1234 Market Street, Phila.) at the following times:

1. May 19 at 11 a.m.
2. May 19 at 5 p.m.
3. May 20 at 10 a.m.
4. May 20 at 4 p.m.

Capital Budget hearings will be held on May 21 at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The public can submit comments by:

• Email:
  • operatingbudget@septa.org
  • capbudget@septa.org
• Voicemail:
  • Operating Budget: (215) 580-7772
  • Capital Budget: (215) 580-7771
• U.S. Mail:
  • Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA)
    ATTN: Senior Director, Budgets & Transformation
    1234 Market Street
    9th Floor
    Philadelphia, PA 19107

Comments must be submitted by May 28.

SEPTA says it will thoroughly review all public feedback before the proposals are sent to the SEPTA Board for a vote on June 26.

The public can also contact their legislator.