Residents of Northwest Philadelphia are bracing for potential cuts to regional rail and bus lines as SEPTA, the public transportation system serving the five-county region of Southeastern Pennsylvania, grapples with a state budget deal that fell far short of expectations.

The newly signed Pennsylvania budget allocates about $50 million to SEPTA, which officials estimate will only last a few months and is far below the $161 million requested by Gov. Josh Shapiro in February. The shortfall raises concerns that service cuts could significantly impact Northwest Philadelphia and the broader region.

The budget deal, approved late Thursday night, provides just $80.5 million for a one-time infusion for public transportation statewide. This leaves SEPTA, the nation's sixth-largest transit agency, projecting a $240 million operating deficit for the fiscal year that began July 1. 

The last-minute removal of mass transit funding from the negotiating table has left transit advocates reeling, and searching for alternatives.

Robert Previdi and Josephine Winter, speaking on behalf of Northwest Philadelphia’s Save the Train Coalition, expressed their concerns: "We don't know yet what the impact of this failure means for potential service cuts, and we call on SEPTA to be transparent and honest with its riders about the immediate future of service."

The coalition, comprising 79 member organizations, has been fighting to preserve transit options in Northwest Philadelphia, including the historic Chestnut Hill West and East Regional Rail lines and the 23 bus route. These services form the backbone of public transportation in neighborhoods like Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy and Germantown, connecting residents to Center City and beyond.

The Chestnut Hill West line, which has historically struggled with low ridership, may be particularly vulnerable to cuts. 

SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch said in a statement that the agency might have to cut services by as much as 20% and possibly raise fares to address the budget shortfall. The exact timeline for these measures remains unclear.

The news comes at a particularly inopportune time for Philadelphia, which is preparing to host major events that would require robust public transit in 2026, including the nation's 250th birthday celebration, the MLB All-Star Game, and World Cup matches. 

There are some positive developments. The Save the Train Coalition reports that since it began advocating for more people to use public transit, ridership is up 10 percent on routes serving Northwest Philadelphia.

To build on this momentum, the coalition is launching the Ride Northwest Philly Transit Equity Ambassador (TEA) program. This initiative aims to "educate, engage, and encourage different communities from all ZIP codes to ride SEPTA," potentially boosting ridership and strengthening the case for preserving services in the area.

Shapiro said the conversation about transit funding is not over, and Democratic lawmakers who represent the Philadelphia region are committed to pursuing more funds. 

"We are all committed to returning in the fall and finding a permanent solution," Shapiro said in a late-night news conference following the budget announcement. 

A serious blow

The current budget deal represents a significant departure from Shapiro's original proposal. In February, the governor had sought to put $283 million of state sales tax revenues into the state's Public Transportation Trust Fund, which would have brought $160 million more to SEPTA alone. This plan was part of a broader five-year strategy to infuse $1.5 billion into transit statewide.

For now, SEPTA plans to dip into its Service Stabilization Fund, a reserve required by state law, to cushion the shortfall in state aid. However, this is a temporary measure.

The current situation is part of a larger struggle for public transit agencies across Pennsylvania and the nation. Many are still trying to recover from the sharp decline in ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic. For SEPTA, the clock is ticking as it exhausts its share of the $61 billion in federal pandemic aid.

The Save the Train Coalition has called on SEPTA to produce transparent information about exactly what kind of service cuts might be coming. Both the Chestnut Hill lines are at risk, with the Chestnut Hill West line being particularly vulnerable. 

In a letter to coalition members, Save the Train leaders acknowledged the uncertainty of the situation: "We know you have questions. We do too, and to be honest, we can't answer most of them right now — particularly what this devastating failure will mean for the future of our neighborhood train lines and bus routes, and SEPTA service across the region."

SEPTA said it will continue seeking to secure a long-term funding solution. 

“We will continue working with the governor, state lawmakers and other stakeholders in the fall,” Busch said in a statement. “SEPTA will also explore all available options for balancing its operating budget.”