SEPTA announces major fare increase proposal for Jan.1

With no prospect of a statewide solution to help fund the everyday operating expenses of public transportation systems, SEPTA announced a new fare increase proposal that would see rates jump by more than 20% across all modes and methods of payment.

Combined with a more affordable fare proposal already being considered for adoption by the SEPTA Board this month, customers would see fares climb by nearly 30% starting January 1, 2025.

This historically high fare increase would be paired with major service cuts, which SEPTA expects to announce and hold public hearings on in early 2025. While some details of the service reduction plan are still being finalized, it would result in an overall 20% cut in service across all modes. Dozens of routes would be eliminated, and those that remain would operate with significantly less frequency.

These cuts will also force SEPTA to postpone its plans to overhaul the bus network, previously known as Bus Revolution.

SEPTA has already announced measures such as hiring freezes for certain administrative positions to help control expenses, and additional steps will be taken in the coming months to cut costs further.

“For the last two years, we have urged action in Harrisburg so that we could avoid these draconian measures,” said SEPTA Chief Operating Officer Scott Sauer.