SEPTA Cuts to Begin This Sunday

by Sean Jeans-Gail, VP of Gov't Affairs + Policy

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With the failure of the Pennsylvania Legislature to find a solution for the fiscal cliff facing the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), people across the greater Philadelphia area are bracing for a disastrous reduction in service that will go into effect starting Sunday.

Faced with a $213 million budget deficit, SEPTA announced earlier this summer that it will be forced to cut 20% of service starting in August, increasing to a 45% reduction in service on January 1, 2026. Those cuts will be paired with a 21.5% fare increase beginning September 1.

Will Amtrak Service be Affected?

The brief answer is: neither Amtrak’s Keystone nor Pennsylvanian service are in danger of ceasing operations. However, if the funding crisis is not addressed, it will lead to deterioration of the infrastructure on which Amtrak trains operate.

There was some confusion surrounding this question, sparked by comments from Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-PA) made during a call with the press earlier this week.

“Many people in our area rely on the Keystone Service,” said Congressman Boyle. “If SEPTA cuts or eliminates that funding to Amtrak, that rail line will cease to operate.”

However, in a briefing with reporters, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) clarified that the State-Supported Amtrak service will not be going away—though it will be negatively affected.

"If SEPTA is unable to make the payments that they need to make to Amtrak, what it could potentially do is slow down the maintenance that is needed along those lines, which could cause slowdowns along those routes or having more of those routes have to get stopped because of a maintenance issue," said Gov. Shapiro. "But, the lines aren't going to be cancelled. They are going to be compromised if we don't get this funding in place."

Amtrak hasn’t addressed the confusion directly, providing a general statement about how it would stall infrastructure upgrades in response to an inquiry by News abc27:

“SEPTA operates a critical commuter service for the Greater Philadelphia Region that complements Amtrak intercity service.

“While failure to adequately fund SEPTA’s operation would directly impact SEPTA-operated commuter trains that run along Amtrak infrastructure, the potential reduction in SEPTA’s financial contribution will have a negative impact on Amtrak’s ability to reinvest in the rail network. This could lead to a deterioration in infrastructure condition and authorized train operating speeds, negatively impacting Amtrak-operated, PennDOT-sponsored Keystone Service and Pennsylvanian service between Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh, as well as Northeast Corridor services.

“SEPTA and PennDOT are good partners, helping to advance the current and future operation of intercity and commuter passenger rail service in the region and nation. We hope there is a path forward so SEPTA can continue providing vital transportation service and partnerships to the region.”

Leaders Warn of Social and Economic Impacts

What is certain is that the cuts to SEPTA will be a disaster for mobility and economic activity in the sixth largest city in the US—and not just for passengers. Regional leaders are already warning motorists to plan on longer commutes as transit users flood roadways, and to avoid the city center during peak hours.

The cuts will be an even heavier burden for people without access to cars, including school-aged children. Of the 198,000 students in the School District of Philadelphia, roughly 52,000 depend on SEPTA to get to and from school.

Transportation officials are also sounding the alarm for major events, such as the Philadelphia Eagles’ home opener on September 4. SEPTA normally operates 10 extra trains to move roughly 17,000 fans in and out of the area; that number will now drop to four.

City leaders are also concerned about the logistics for next summer’s World Cup, where half a million visitors are projected to travel from across the globe to attend six matches at Lincoln Financial Field.

It’s not too late to head off this catastrophe. Rail Passengers is asking Pennsylvania passengers to ask the State Legislature to fund this vital transportation system!