What to Know

  • Pennsylvania lawmakers now only have hours to secure funding for SEPTA before the transit agency moves forward with a plan to implement drastic service cuts and fare hikes. On Monday, Aug. 11, the Pennsylvania House passed a Democratic-backed transit funding bill that would have included funding for highways as well as increased aid for transit agency operations by $292 million, or about 25% more, with the majority of the money going to SEPTA. The Pennsylvania Senate did not approve the bill, however.
  • On Tuesday, Aug. 12, the Senate passed a Republican-supported funding plan for SEPTA that would have used money from a state transit fund and required fare increases every other year tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Republican State Sen. Joe Picozzi said the bill would “provide $1.2 billion for Pennsylvania’s transportation networks over the next two years, including mass transit and roadways.”
  • On Wednesday, Aug. 13, a House Committee voted against the Republican-backed bill, with Democrats, SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer and PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll all speaking out against it and taking issue with the portion of the plan that called for using the state transit fund to cover SEPTA’s $213 million budget deficit. Carroll stated that the amount fluctuates and that moving the money would have detrimental effects across the state while Sauer said there wasn’t enough unallocated money to cover SEPTA’s deficit.
  • If Pennsylvania lawmakers don’t reach a deal on funding by the end of the night of Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, SEPTA will begin a 10-day preparation period for 20% across-the-board service cuts. Those cuts will take effect Aug. 24, 2025, and include eliminating bus routes with lower ridership and reducing the frequency of bus, trolley and rail services across the region.
  • Under the plan, fares will then rise by 21.5% on Sept. 1, 2025, for the system’s approximately 800,000 daily riders. A weekday ride would rise from $2.50 to $2.90 on a bus, train or trolley, SEPTA said. Soon after, the agency would impose a hiring freeze and carry out additional service cuts by Jan. 1, 2026, that will mean it will have eliminated half its current services, SEPTA said. That will include cutting more regional rail and bus routes and imposing a 9 p.m. curfew on rail services, some of which go as late as 1:30 a.m. currently.
  • SEPTA also warned that under the plan, they would be unable to provide enhanced service for major tourist events next year. Those include FIFA World Cup matches in Philadelphia, events surrounding the celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday, Major League Baseball’s all-star game, the PGA Championship and NCAA March Madness games.

Pennsylvania lawmakers now only have hours to secure funding for SEPTA before the transit agency moves forward with a plan to implement drastic service cuts and fare hikes. Follow along for live updates throughout the day.