PHILADELPHIA (September 8, 2025) – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today approved SEPTA’s request for the one-time use of its state capital assistance to cover operations.
As a result, SEPTA will restore full service on Sunday, Sept. 14, including the 20% Bus and Metro service cuts that started on Aug. 24. The 21.5% system-wide fare increase will also be reinstated on Sept. 14.
“This is not the long-term funding solution we need to address our $213 million budget deficit,” said SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer. “But over the last two weeks, we have seen the devastating effects of the service cuts on our customers. Our riders deserve better, and they deserve stability.”
Due to the prolonged state budget impasse and no resolution to the statewide transit funding crisis, SEPTA took the unprecedented step last Friday of requesting this emergency flexibility to reduce the impact of service cuts on riders. During the week of Aug. 25, SEPTA left more than 4,400 people behind at bus and trolley stops due to crowded conditions caused by running less service. The number of bus trips running late was up more than 26% compared to normal conditions.
With PennDOT’s approval for SEPTA to use up to $394 million of its capital assistance funding to support operations, and additional revenue from the fare increase, SEPTA will plan to avoid service cuts for the next two years. This will also allow the Authority to move forward with the implementation of its new bus network and support the major events coming to Philadelphia in 2026.
However, transferring capital funds to cover operating expenses, with no commitment to replace them, is not a sustainable long-term solution to SEPTA’s current budget crisis. Using capital funds for daily operations means these resources are not available to support infrastructure rehabilitation, vehicle replacements and other much-needed projects. SEPTA’s current 12-year Capital Program adopted in June already requires $1.6 billion in infrastructure and vehicle projects to be delayed.
“We are grateful to the Governor and our legislative delegation, and all of our advocates, for their tireless efforts to rally for transit funding,” Sauer said. “We are urging all parties to continue to work towards an agreement on a transit funding plan that preserves the service our customers and region deserve.”
To prepare for the service restoration on Sept. 14, SEPTA will work to ensure all safety sensitive systems, including signal and dispatch systems, are updated with new schedule data. This also provides time to ensure bus operators, maintenance crews, and other personnel can safely transition to new work schedules.
Sauer met with a group of bus and trolley operators, maintenance workers, and other employees at the Callowhill District today to share news of the service restoration and also of the remaining funding challenges. “We solved the immediate need, but we exasperated the future need,” he told them.
New schedule and service information will be posted on SEPTA’s website at septa.org. Updates will also be available on SEPTA’s social media accounts, or on the official SEPTA app.
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