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Pennsylvania Stalemate Leaves SEPTA Facing Major Service Cuts

The Senate’s reallocation plan is stalled in the House, putting SEPTA on track to cut 20 percent of service on August 24 followed by a fare increase on September 1 unless lawmakers approve funding.

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Overview

  • The Republican-controlled Senate approved a two-year, $1.2 billion transit funding plan that would reallocate about $292.5 million annually from the Public Transportation Trust Fund, including a $40 million carve-out for Pittsburgh Regional Transit.
  • A Democratic-led House Rules Committee voted 18–15 along party lines to block the Senate plan, rejecting the use of capital-dedicated funds for operating expenses.
  • SEPTA projects a $213 million operating deficit and has warned it will implement 20 percent service cuts on August 24 and a 21.5 percent fare hike on September 1 unless state funding arrives.
  • Planned reductions would eliminate 32 bus routes, shorten 16 others, reduce service on 88 lines and end special event services, while the fare increase would take average trips to $2.90.
  • Lawmakers continue to debate alternative revenue options, from taxing skill games to reallocating sales-tax shares, but partisan disagreements and tight timing leave a last-minute deal uncertain.