SEPA is planning to restore all services on September 14, pending state authorization to draw from maintenance funds.

In a series of developments, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is facing a critical juncture in its plans to implement service cuts and fare hikes.

SEPTA's request to use capital funds for operations is currently under review by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). The authority is awaiting PennDOT's decision on the next steps, as the move to use capital dollars for immediate operations was first endorsed by Republican state lawmakers.

A Philadelphia judge has ordered SEPTA to reverse the service cuts, including curfews, station closures, reduction or elimination of ParaTransit routes, and Regional Rail eliminations. However, SEPTA is appealing this decision, and the subsequent ruling on Thursday allows SEPTA to proceed with the fare hikes, which will take effect on Sept. 14.

The fare increase, from $2.50 to $2.90 for metro and bus, Regional Rail, and SEPTA Access (formerly CCT Connect), was originally scheduled for Sept. 1 but was delayed due to a court ruling. The decision to raise fares will bring in approximately $31 million in additional revenue per year for SEPTA.

If state approval is granted, SEPTA plans to restore all cut bus routes on Sept. 14 and will not revisit any service cuts for the next two fiscal years. Some bus routes were restored on Sept. 2 under an agreement with the city of Philadelphia.

Frequency reductions across the Market-Frankford Line, the Broad Street Line, and trolleys are still in effect, but will likely be reversed on Sept. 14. A planned 20% service reduction to Regional Rail has not yet gone into effect. However, the planned 9 p.m. curfew and elimination of certain Regional Rail lines (Wilmington/Newark, Trenton, Paoli/Thorndale, Chestnut Hill West, and Cynwyd) are still under consideration, as SEPTA is appealing the court decision that restrains these cuts.

SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer stated that this is a temporary solution, not a long-term one. Using capital dollars to fill SEPTA's budget deficit is not a sustainable long-term solution, as it takes funding away from critical infrastructure rehabilitation and vehicle replacements.

Governor Josh Shapiro initially opposed the idea, but later said he was open to it during negotiations. The approval for SEPTA to use PennDOT funds for capital needs to raise fares was given by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC).

As the decisions regarding SEPTA's service cuts and fare hikes continue to unfold, commuters and residents in the Philadelphia region await updates on the future of their public transportation services.

SEPA is planning to restore all services on September 14, pending state authorization to draw from maintenance funds.