Current:Home > MyPhiladelphia mass transit users face fare hikes of more than 20% and possible service cuts -WealthRise Academy
Philadelphia mass transit users face fare hikes of more than 20% and possible service cuts
View
Date:2025-04-19 12:05:11
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia’s mass transit system has proposed an across-the-board 21.5% fare increase that would start New Year’s Day as well as severe service cuts that would take effect next summer.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority announced its plans on Tuesday and scheduled a Dec. 13 public hearing on them.
If approved by SEPTA’s board, riders would pay the increase on top of a proposed separate interim average fare increase of 7.5% that the panel is due to consider later this month. If that is passed, it would take effect Dec. 1. If both increases take effect, the single fare cost of riding the city bus and subway would go from $2 to $2.90. SEPTA key fares for rail riders, which now range from $3.75 to $6.50, depending on the zone riders use, would range from $5 to $8.75 on Jan. 1.
SEPTA, which is facing a potential strike by thousands of its workers, has repeatedly said its financial health is uncertain. It last raised fares in 2017, and the proposed increase would be expected to bring in an additional $23 million for this fiscal year and $45 million per year starting in 2026.
The nation’s sixth-largest mass transit system, SEPTA is facing an annual structural budget deficit of $240 million as federal pandemic aid phases out. It also has lost out on about $161 million in state aid since the Republican-controlled state Senate declined to hold a vote on Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposal for $283 million in new state aid to public transit. Instead, the lawmakers approved a one-time payment to the state trust fund for transit systems, of which SEPTA got $46 million.
SEPTA’s board of directors could vote as early as Dec. 19 to approve the latest fair hike proposal. SEPTA is also looking at potential service cuts that could take effect July 1 and would include eliminating and shortening routes, and reducing the frequency of bus, trolley, subway, and Regional Rail service.
The cuts would save an estimated $92 million in the first year — an amount that could grow in future fiscal years as SEPTA begins to consider infrastructure cuts.
“This is painful and it’s going to be painful for our customers,” SEPTA”s Chief Operating Officer, Scott Sauer, said Tuesday. ”This is the beginning of what we have been saying is the transit death spiral.”
The proposal comes with SEPTA engaging in contract talks with Transport Workers Union Local 234, whose members voted to authorize a strike when their one-year contract expired last Friday. The union — which has about 5,000 members, including bus, subway, and trolley operators, mechanics, cashiers, maintenance people and custodians — eventually agreed to delay any job actions, saying some progress was being made in the negotiations.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- A decade after Sandy, hurricane flood maps reveal New York's climate future
- 5 numbers that show Hurricane Fiona's devastating impact on Puerto Rico
- Heat Can Take A Deadly Toll On Humans
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Cut emissions quickly to save lives, scientists warn in a new U.N. report
- Vanderpump Rules' Scheana Shay Addresses Brock Davies, Raquel Leviss Hookup Rumor
- Climate change likely helped cause deadly Pakistan floods, scientists find
- Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
- A small town ballfield took years to repair after Hurricane Maria. Then Fiona came.
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Recycling plastic is practically impossible — and the problem is getting worse
- A huge winter storm is expected to affect millions across 22 states
- 5 New Year's resolutions to reduce your carbon footprint
- Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
- Al Gore helped launch a global emissions tracker that keeps big polluters honest
- Why Women Everywhere Love Ashley Tisdale's Being Frenshe Beauty, Wellness & Home Goods
- Wedding Guest Dresses From Dress The Population That Are So Cute, They’ll Make the Bride Mad
Recommendation
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
FAQ: What's at stake at the COP27 global climate negotiations
The first day of fall marks the autumn equinox, which is different from a solstice
Selling Sunset Season 6 Finally Has a Premiere Date and Teaser
Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
Traditional Plant Knowledge Is Not A Quick Fix
Love Is Blind Production Company Responds to Contestants' Allegations of Neglect
Al Gore helped launch a global emissions tracker that keeps big polluters honest