SEPTA Board Approves “Doomsday” Budget

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Board of Directors announced yesterday it will move forward with deep service reductions and substantial fare increases for passengers as the agency confronts a $213 million budget shortfall that goes into effect July 1, 2025. SEPTA officials say they have exhausted available austerity measures and, unless a legislative fix is passed by the state legislature, must now accommodate the realities imposed by the looming fiscal cliff.

“This budget will effectively dismantle SEPTA,” SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer said during a Thursday board meeting. “Once this dismantlement begins, it will be almost impossible to reverse, and the economic and social impacts will be immediate and long-lasting for all Pennsylvanians, whether they ride SEPTA or not.

Rail Passengers is asking Pennsylvania passengers to call their State Senator and deliver this simple message:

“Please pass a legislative fix to avoid SEPTA’s ‘Doomsday’ budget. Transit is too important to Pennsylvania’s economy to let these systems fail!”