Budget

End of the line: As funding deadline approaches, SEPTA plans on drastic cuts across the board

Assuming the worst, the transit agency is preparing for severe service cuts and fare increases

A SEPTA bus is parked as the driver takes a break before continuing its route.

A SEPTA bus is parked as the driver takes a break before continuing its route. Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The terminus is in sight for SEPTA. 

Facing a structural budget gap of more than $200 million, the Philadelphia region’s transit authority is preparing for the worst as state lawmakers continue to debate a budget that may or may not include a lifeline for the agency. 

In his budget plan, Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed a 1.75% increase in funding for transit systems statewide, which would bring in a total of nearly $300 million for systems statewide, including an additional $161 million for SEPTA. 

But without a solution this summer, the service cuts, fare increases and other drastic changes to the system are expected to hit the region later this year. 

Here’s a breakdown of what’s at stake:

Service cuts

Looking at a potential 45% reduction in services, SEPTA has prepared two fall schedules, one operating on a normal basis and the other with a 20% cut in services. Officials said riders would first see bus route service cuts and the ending of all special services, such as express lines to the sports complex. There would be a 21.5% fare increase in September, followed by cuts to an additional 25% of routes, a 9 p.m. curfew and the loss of five regional rail lines in January 2026. 

Routes on the chopping block

  • The Broad Street Line local, express, and spur; the Market-Frankford Line, the Media-Sharon Hill Line, all five subway-surface trolleys and the Route 15 trolley would have reduced service
  • All Regional Rail routes would operate with reduced service, including Airport, Chestnut Hill East, Chestnut Hill West, Cynwyd, Fox Chase, Lansdale/Doylestown, Media/Wawa, Manayunk/Norristown, Paoli/Thorndale, Trenton, Warminster, Wilmington, and West Trenton
  • 32 bus routes would be eliminated, including: 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 bus routes would be shortened, including: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 17, 27, 43, 61, 84, 115, 124, 125, 433, 441, 495
  • And 63 bus routes would operate with reduced service, including 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), 65, 66, 67, 68, 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, B1 OWL, K, L1 OWL.

Fare increases

SEPTA fares would increase 21.5% starting on Sept. 1, with the one-way base fare rising to $2.90. A second round of service cuts would be triggered Jan. 1, if needed.

Due Date

The deadline to receive a boost in funding is fast approaching. SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer said there is no drop-dead date, but that new funding would help the agency stave off some of the cuts – or at least the severity of them. 

The agency said it would take two weeks to post notices at affected bus stops, and from there, schedules will be determined with SEPTA’s unionized rail engineers and subway, trolley and bus operators. 

As of now, the first phase of cuts is set to hit on Aug. 24, with a second round hitting on Jan. 1, 2026, assuming no additional funding comes through.