SEPTA reveals bus routes would be cut if they fail to secure funding

SEPTA reveals which bus routes would be cut if they fail to secure funding

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SEPTA will begin installing signs throughout the Philadelphia region Thursday morning, notifying customers of bus routes and stops that would be eliminated next month if they fail to prevent the looming “transit death spiral.”

Unless they can gather $213 million to piece together a structural budget deficit, SEPTA plans to cut services and raise fares starting in late August of 2025.. The service cuts would include the elimination of 38 bus routes on Aug. 24, 2025, a day before school begins in Philadelphia.

On Thursday, July 24, SEPTA is set to install signage around the city, showing the impacted routes and bus stops. SEPTA is then expected to release their fall service schedules during the week of Aug. 4, 2025. After that, they’ll continue to reach out to the public to advise them of specific service changes and how it would impact their travel throughout the month of August.

Overall, the budget that SEPTA approved in June 2025 would have the following impacts:

An overall service cut of 45% by July 2026
The end of express trains to sporting events starting Aug. 24, 2025
The removal of 50 bus routes from service by the summer of 2026
Ending service on five regional rail lines
All trolley routes would be converted to bus lines
Whole bus depots would be closed
Fares would increase from $2.50 to $2.90 a ride
Rail service would end at 9 p.m.
A fare increase of 21.5% by September 2025

To prevent the cuts, SEPTA is hoping to get a share of the $168 million increase that Gov. Josh Shapiro included in his recent state budget proposal. However, Pennsylvania has not passed a budget for next year yet and it is unclear if the legislature will go along with Shapiro’s proposal.