SEPTA’s doomsday budget lays out a stark future for mass transit without the $200 million infusion proposed in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget. Four Regional Rail lines would be eliminated in January — including the Chestnut Hill West line, vital to the Northwest Philadelphia area we represent, and the iconic, heavily used, Paoli-Thorndale route. SEPTA would also cut off rail service at 9 p.m., raise fares by 20%, and reduce all remaining bus, rail, and trolley service by 45%, causing ridership to plunge by another 300,000 daily riders in the coming years.

This would be catastrophic to the Commonwealth in countless ways. It would disrupt everyday commutes and travel while dealing a shortsighted and costly blow to Pennsylvania’s economy by funneling even more traffic onto our already congested roads. The governor and Senate leaders must do more than just secure SEPTA’s budget by providing the necessary $200+ million in operating funds to avert this scenario. They must also embrace a bold, forward-thinking investment strategy for public transit as part of a comprehensive statewide transportation plan funding roads, bridges, highways, airports, and seaports to support a growing economy.

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered commuting patterns, reducing SEPTA’s daily ridership from 1 million to 800,000, while average daily vehicle miles traveled in SEPTA’s five-county region increased from 67,000 miles in 2018 to 69,000 in 2023. This is a troubling preview of what lies ahead if Harrisburg fails to take decisive action to support SEPTA. It is simply unacceptable to shift the equivalent of Pittsburgh’s population of 300,000 onto our region’s roads, increasing congestion and accelerating infrastructure deterioration, which will result in costly repairs and upgrades.  

State Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman said the Southeast must “feel the pain” the rest of the state is experiencing in tough budgetary times. But we’ve already been feeling the pain. SEPTA’s ridership decline isn’t about lack of interest in the train or bus, but because of inadequate service frequency, which discourages use and pushes people onto the road (by driving or hailing a ride-sharing service) instead of mass transit. And despite their criticisms, SEPTA consistently performs well compared to peer transit agencies nationwide in terms of how efficiently it uses public funds, according to the state’s Act 44 Performance Review. 

Pittman and State Sen. Wayne Langerholc are right that SEPTA must evolve in response to COVID-era shifts in ridership. The good news is SEPTA has a vision to address their concerns, hidden on its website under the “Initiatives” section. There, you’ll find thoughtful proposals: a bus network redesign for more frequent and efficient service, a plan to reimagine Regional Rail by offering service every 15 minutes, and a comprehensive trolley modernization plan. These improvements would make transit more reliable and attractive, boosting ridership and relieving congestion on Interstate 95 and the Schuylkill Expressway. But they can’t happen without an investment.  

We’re lucky to have our transit infrastructure. Unlike other cities, we don’t need to spend billions building new rail lines from scratch. SEPTA already owns and operates 450 miles of track, 290 stations, and maintains a fleet of 2,350 bus and rail cars across nearly 200 routes. But many of those routes only operate once an hour. How can we expect the agency to grow its ridership when its budget — and therefore its ability to run trains, buses, and trolleys — is so limited? A bare-bones budget won’t bring riders back.

Shapiro and Senate Republicans must find the political will to help SEPTA in the immediate future, support the critical $200 million increase, and find the money to help the agency transform and serve the riders of today and tomorrow. 

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healy just announced a 10-year, $8 billion transportation infrastructure plan to stabilize Boston’s transit system. Pennsylvanians deserve a similar investment to restore our existing transit infrastructure to a world-class caliber. A viable alternative to massive roadway congestion benefits everyone by keeping traffic down and our Commonwealth’s economy moving. A strong public transit system doesn’t just serve riders — it’s a critical part of Pennsylvania’s overall transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, airports, and seaports. Our leaders must treat it that way. 

The Save the Train Coalition represents five neighborhoods in Northwest Philadelphia, encompassing 70 organizations and over 8,000 residents, in the effort to prevent SEPTA’s proposal to close a vital rail line running through the heart of the community and to promote safer, more frequent transit service throughout the region.