PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — SEPTA’s board approved at its June meeting a long-threatened doomsday budget that would see its service cut by 45% and fares rise by 21.5%.
The $1.7 billion budget approval comes as legislators in Harrisburg continue to debate the inclusion of a public transportation funding plan in the overall state budget that would stave off the cuts. SEPTA has said it is staring down a $213 million deficit starting July 1 with the end of federal COVID funding.
Should the state funding not materialize, the cuts approved by SEPTA’s board end five regional rail lines — Paoli/Thorndale, Wilmington/Newark, Cynwyd, Chestnut Hill West, and Trenton — and 56 bus routes by January 2026. The first cuts of 32 bus routes would happen in August 2025.
"This is a vote that none of us want to take, and we have worked hard as an authority to prevent this day from coming," said SEPTA Board Chair Kenneth Lawrence. "And to be clear, this does not have to happen."
Other bus routes, trolleys and the subway will see significant service reductions, and all trains will stop at 9 p.m. daily.
With the city set to host a number of events in 2026, including the World Cup, MLB All-Star Game and semiquincentennial celebration of the U.S., all special services offered by SEPTA are also gone in the ‘doomsday’ budget.