SEPTA Funding Crisis Hub for Delaware County
SEPTA is facing a funding crisis. Learn how this will impact Delaware County and how you can help.
What is happening?
SEPTA is facing a $213 million budget deficit starting July 1, 2025. SEPTA has worked to reduce this budget deficit, but there is nothing left to cut from the budget but service.
To avoid cutting service, the State needs to approve a budget that would allow SEPTA to maintain current service while implementing a small fare increase.
You can learn more by reading SEPTA’s fact sheet here.
Learn more by reading DVRPC’s press release and board presentation about the funding crisis.
If a budget is not approved, service changes will happen in 3 waves: August 24, 2025 (service cuts), September 2025 (21% fare increase) and January 1, 2026 (service cuts).
how will this impact delaware county?
Ride or don’t ride–this impacts everyone is Delaware County!
With the exception of the 107 and 119, every SEPTA bus, trolley, or regional rail line in Delaware County will be impacted through route elimination, reduced or service cuts. Fares will increase across all modes of transit. Increased traffic and congestion will impact local roads and highways, which could impact emergency response times as well, and property values could decrease.
service changes
You can find the full breakdown of changes by route here. A summary of changes in Delaware County is below. Changes are broken down by mode of transit and wave that they will take effect,
BUS CHANGES
On August 24, 2025: 106, 120, 126 will be eliminated. 115, 124, 125 will be shortened. 103, 104, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 117, 118, 123 will have frequency reduced by 20%.
In September 2025: Fare increase to $2.90.
On January 1, 2026: 103, 118 eliminated.
Trolley Changes
On August 24, 2025: 101 [D1], 102 [D2], 11 [T4] will have frequency reduced by 20%.
In September 2025: Fare increase to $2.90.
On January 1, 2026: 101 [D1], 102 [D2], 11 [T4] will have no service after 9pm.
regional rail Changes
On August 24, 2025: Media/Wawa Line, Paoli/Thorndale Line, Wilmington/Newark Line will have frequency reduced.
In September 2025: Fare increases. Zone 1 Monthly Trail Passes become $116, Zone 2 Monthly Trail Passes become $180, Zone 3 Monthly Trail Passes become $217.5, Anywhere Monthly Trail Passes become $255.
On January 1, 2026: Paoli/Thorndale Line, Wilmington/Newark Line will be eliminated. Media/Wawa Line will have no service after 9pm.
impacts other than service changes
Car traffic will increase.
DVRPC estimates that these cuts will add 275,000 vehicles per day to the region's roads.
Travel times on I-95 in Delaware County are expected to increase by 10%. Travel times on I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) are predicted to increase by 20% and travel speeds could be reduced by 7 MPH.
Congestion on local roads will increase.
DVRPC estimates that 60% of the additional traffic caused by the cuts will occur on the local road network in Delaware County, rather than on expressways.
Police/Fire/EMS response times will be slower.
Heavy congestion on roads can delay ambulance and fire truck travel times. In cases of emergencies, every second counts.
Air and noise pollution will increase.
DVRPC warns that, with more cars on the road, years of progress improving air quality will be set back.
Traffic noise increases when there is more traffic. Heavy freight trucks driving on local roads to avoid congestion will cause noise pollution.
Property values will decrease.
A SEPTA study estimates the region will lose $19.9 billion in property value.
Homes near the Paoli/Thorndale line will lose about $56,800 in value on average, adding up to $6.49 billion for all the homes in the area.
Homes near the Wilmington/Newark line will lose about $6,600 in value on average, which totals $680 million for all the homes in that area.
Costs of goods will increase
DVRPC predicts that the congestion created by service cuts will impact freight travel. Increased delivery times, fuel consumption, and supply chain holdups could increase the cost of goods.
what can I do?
Contact Your Representatives in Harrisburg
Fill out the form at the bottom of this page. It will automatically send an email to your representatives in Harrisburg, urging them to fund SEPTA.
Attend a Public Hearing
You can go to one of these in-person public hearings to share your story:
- Monday, May 19, 2025: 11 am & 5 pm (Operating Budget, Fare Increases & Service Reductions)
- Tuesday, May 20, 2025: 10 am & 4 pm (Operating Budget, Fare Increases & Service Reductions)
- Wednesday, May 21, 2025: 10 am & 4 pm (Capital Budget)
Hearings will be held at:
SEPTA Headquarters
1234 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
If you can’t or don’t want to attend, you can still have your voice heard. Find out how to in the “Share Your Story with SEPTA!” section of this webpage.
Post on Social Media
We have a selection of 14 social media posts and graphics ready for you to share with your community to #FundSEPTANow.
Share Your Story with SEPTA!
There are three ways to share your story:
1. Leave a voicemail at 215-580-7771 (Capital Budget). Include:
Your Name
Zip Code
Message
2. Email SEPTA’s Capital Budget office at capbudget@septa.org
3. Write SEPTA by mailing comments to:
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA)
ATTN: Senior Director, Budgets & Transformation
1234 Market Street, 9th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Submit a Letter of Support
Letters of support templates are here:
-
Once you have filled out a letter of support, email Mihir Rastogi, a Delaware County Infrastructure Planner, at RastogiM@co.pa.delaware.pa.us and the County will send them to the appropriate contact at SEPTA.
Any questions or concerns? You can contact the Planning Department at 610-891-5200 or Planning_Department@co.delaware.pa.us.
Gina Burritt, Director
Planning Department
2 W. Baltimore Avenue
Suite 202
Media, PA 19063
Phone: 610-891-5200
Fax: 610-891-5203
Email: Planning_Department@co.delaware.pa.us
