SEPTA says service cuts and fare hikes will begin later this month if state funding doesn’t come through by next week

SEPTA officials said without funding, there will be a 20% cut to all services and a 21.5% fare increase.

This story appears in the Keystone newsletter. Subscribe here.

At a press conference Wednesday morning, SEPTA, the mass transit agency serving southeastern Pennsylvania, announced that significant service cuts and fare increases would begin later this month if it does not receive new state funding by next Thursday, Aug. 14.

Gov. Josh Shapiro made funding mass transit agencies in the state like SEPTA a priority in his new budget. But lawmakers in Harrisburg continue to haggle over Shapiro’s proposed economic plan, a stalemate that has gone on for more than a month.

According to SEPTA officials, if the funding doesn’t come through, there will be a 20% cut to all services, including eliminating 32 bus routes and major reductions in trips on rail modes. All special services, including the Sports Express, would end. As of now, the potential changes are slated to go into effect Aug. 24.

Starting Sept. 1, a 21.5% fare increase would be implemented. SEPTA said it is imposing a complete hiring freeze later this month.

Another wave of service cuts would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, including the elimination of five Regional Rail lines along with 18 bus routes in an effort to achieve an overall 45% reduction in service, according to SETPA.

For a complete list of all potential service eliminations and changes, as well as fare increases, click here.