PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Riders of SEPTA's Chestnut Hill West line are concerned their regional rail service could be eliminated as the transit agency faces a so-called "fiscal cliff."
Without more revenue to fill a $240 million budget gap, SEPTA is preparing to reduce service and charge riders more.
"We are working on a plan for cutting 20% of service and raising fares by 30%," said SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards.
People who live in Chestnut Hill are concerned the Chestnut Hill West Regional Rail line could be on the chopping block because, with 1,752 daily riders, it's among the least used of SEPTA's Regional Rails, ranking in at 11 out of 13.
Resident Christian Pilling voiced his dismay at Thursday's SEPTA board meeting.
"I'm calling in to express my shock that SEPTA is considering abandoning this train line and disinvesting in my community," Pilling said.
Richards emphasized that no decisions on potential cuts have been made, as SEPTA lobbies Harrisburg for transit cash.
"We are working as hard as we can to get the funding so this is not on our agenda," Richards said.
She says SEPTA will announce any possible service reductions in March, with public hearings in the spring.