Monthly Archives: November 2024

SEPTA Postpones Large Fare Increase Following Gov. Shapiro Funding Announcement

PHILADELPHIA (November 22, 2024) – Today, Gov. Shapiro announced stop-gap funding that will help SEPTA fill its operating budget deficit for this year, Fiscal Year 2025. This will enable SEPTA to postpone a major 21.5% fare increase that was proposed to start January 1, 2025. Public hearings for the proposal, scheduled for Dec. 13, have been cancelled.

“The governor’s continued support for SEPTA and public transportation is greatly appreciated, and it gives us a lifeline,” said SEPTA Chief Operating Officer Scott Sauer. “SEPTA will continue to focus on providing safe, clean and reliable public transportation while taking steps to cut costs and enhance efficiency throughout the organization.”

The $153 million being flexed to SEPTA at the direction of Gov. Shapiro covers SEPTA’s projected operating budget gap through the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2025. However, SEPTA still faces an annual, structural budget deficit of at least $240 million without a permanent solution to Pennsylvania’s public transportation funding crisis.

Like many other transit agencies across the nation, SEPTA has hit a fiscal cliff as a result of the pandemic. One-time federal COVID relief funds were used to help cover the everyday expenses of running the system – maintaining service during the pandemic and supporting the post-pandemic recovery. Those funds were exhausted this past spring, creating a nearly quarter billion dollar annual budget deficit in the current fiscal year and beyond.

SEPTA’s Board on Thursday approved a plan that will increase fares by an average of 7.5% starting on Dec. 1. That fare increase is not impacted by today’s announcement. The larger, 21.5% proposal was announced recently, after the state legislature adjourned for the year without approving a plan proposed by Gov. Shapiro that would have provided new, sustainable funding for SEPTA and all public transit across the Commonwealth.

SEPTA will continue to work with its funding partners in Harrisburg on a long-term funding solution in the coming months. In the meantime, the Authority will have to prepare for the possibility of large fare increases and service cuts starting in summer 2025 if new funding is not in place.

For more information about SEPTA, please visit https://wwww.septa.org/.

SEPTA Contract Negotiations Update and Revised Service Interruption Plan 11/18/24

SEPTA Contract Negotiations Update

Potential Work Stoppage by City and Suburban Transit Division Workers Could Begin as Early as Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 19

Would Reduce SEPTA Service to Only Regional Rail and Limited Contract Service
As SEPTA and Transportation Workers Union (TWU) Local 234 continue to engage in good-faith negotiations toward reaching a new contract for the Authority’s City Transit Division workers, we wanted to advise you that the contracts with the unions representing Suburban Transit operators and mechanics are set to expire this week.

A simultaneous work stoppage by both City and Suburban Transit Division employees could begin as soon as tomorrow, Tuesday, November 19 and would severely limit SEPTA service.  Only Regional Rail, Paratransit (CCT Connect/SEPTA Access), and contracted services like LUCY would operate. 

SEPTA’s current contracts with SMART 1594 and TWU 234 Victory – which represents more than 530 operators and mechanics at SEPTA’s Victory District – expires tonight, November 18 at 11:59 PM.  The current contract between SEPTA and TWU 234 Frontier – which represents more than 200 operators and mechanics at SEPTA’s Frontier District – expires at 11:59 PM on Saturday, November 23.  These follow the expiration of SEPTA’s contract with TWU 234 on November 7.

While strike authorization votes have been taken, those actions do not necessarily mean there will be a work stoppage when contracts expire.  SEPTA management and union leadership will continue productive, good faith negotiations to reach a fair agreement and avoid a work stoppage.

This is a changing situation, and SEPTA encourages customers to monitor the SEPTA website, social media platforms and local media outlets for updated information about what service will operate in the event of a work stoppage by one or both of the City and Suburban Transit Divisions.
Important Resources & Links to Share and Follow
SEPTA Website – https://www.septa.org/

Service Interruption Guide –  https://wwww.septa.org/news/service-interruption-information/

X / Twitter – @SEPTA | @SEPTA_Social | @SEPTANews | @SEPTAPHILLY

Facebook –  https://www.facebook.com/ISEPTAPHILLY/

Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/septaphilly/

Telephone –

·       Customer Service Call Center: 215-580-7800 (Para Información en Español llame al Luego marque el número 2)

·       CCT Customer Service: 215-580-7145

·       SEPTA Key: 855-567-3782
SERVICE INFORMATION – What Service Will & Will Not Operate
A concurrent work stoppage by City and Suburban Transit Divisions would impact the Service Interruption Plan SEPTA had developed in preparation for a potential City Transit Division work stoppage.  The Service Interruption Guide posted on SEPTA’s website at https://wwww.septa.org/news/service-interruption-information/ will be updated with new information and travel guidance for customers as contract statuses and negotiations dictate.

In the event of a simultaneous work stoppage by TWU 234 and SMART 1594, the following SEPTA services will not operate:

·       All City and Suburban Buses

·       Market-Frankford Line [L]

·       Broad Street Line [B]

·       City Trolleys [T] (10,11,13,15,34,36]

·       Suburban Trolleys [D] (Media-Sharon Hill – Routes 201/102)

·       Norristown High Speed Line [M]

Following are the only SEPTA services that will operate:

·       All 13 Regional Rail Lines

·       SEPTA Access (CCT Connect) – Paratransit and Senior Shared Ride

·       Contracted Services – LUCY (Loop through University City), Routes 310, 311, 204

All 13 Regional Rail Lines – Regional Rail service – including service to more than 50 stations in the City of Philadelphia – will operate on timetables posted on the Service Interruption Guide page. Additional trains will be added to some Lines and trains may make additional stops to accommodate anticipated ridership increases. Timetables and other information are posted at: https://wwww.septa.org/news/service-interruption-information/.

 LUCY (Loop through University City) – Green and Gold Loop service will operate regular routing from William H. Grey III 30th Street Station to selected University City destinations.

 SEPTA Access (CCT Connect) – Regular service will operate for registered ADA and Shared Ride customers. Customers may experience some delays due to increased demand and local street traffic.
FARE INFORMATION
All regular Regional Rail and transit fares will apply. Fares must be purchased before boarding. No cash will be accepted at entry gates or on platforms. Contactless payment is not accepted on Regional Rail trains; riders should have Travel Wallet funds or a valid pass loaded to their Key card.

Travel Wallet: Key Cards can be loaded online at SEPTAKey.org, by contacting the Call Center at 855-567-3782 or from Fare Kiosk located at Center City Rail Stations and SEPTA Sales Offices and participating retailers.

Quick Trips: Valid on the day purchased for one-way travel on Regional Rail trains purchased from Fare Kiosks or Sales Offices and needed for entry to the paid area at the stations. Prices vary by zone.

Using Monthly/Weekly TransPass+ and Zone One TrailPass for Regional Rail travel within the City of Philadelphia: Monthly TransPass+ or Zone One (1) TrailPasses loaded on SEPTA Key Cards will be valid for travel at all times, to all Regional Rail stations within the City of Philadelphia (with the exception of Forest Hills and Somerton).

Special Note About Tapping: Unlike tapping once for travel on buses and subway, Regional Trail Train trips require customers to tap at the station where they board AND the station they exit. This prevents overpayment.

Transit Pass Redemption:  Unused TransPass+ passes, purchased before a service interruption, will be eligible for a full or partial refund. Customers should contact the Key Call Center at 855-567-3782 to request a refund for any unused or partially used Transit Passes.

** General fare information is available on SEPTA’s website at https://wwww.septa.org/fares/.  Per trip costs are based on Zone/Distance and will be charged to Key card account balance.
CUSTOMER TRAVEL INFORMATION
During a work stoppage, customers are advised to plan ahead, pre-purchase fares and leave additional time before traveling.

All service interruption information will posted on the Service Interruption Guide page on SEPTA’s website – https://wwww.septa.org/news/service-interruption-information/ – and will also be accessible through the SEPTA homepage https://www.septa.org.

SEPTA Customer Service – 215-580-7800 | @SEPTA_Social – will operate with extended hours. Please visit www.septa.org and follow local media outlets for additional news and service updates.

SEPTA Key Customer Service Call Center – 855-567-3782 – hours are: Weekdays 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM and Weekends 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

SEPTA Ambassadors will also be deployed to Regional Rail stations throughout the City to provide assistance and information to customers during the morning and evening commutes.

Parking is available at most SEPTA Regional Rail stations. Surface lots $2.00, Garages $4.00.

Changes to Evening Boarding at Center City Regional Rail Stations – SEPTA is alerting customers to changes to Regional Rail boarding that will be in place at Center City Regional Rail stations during evening travel hours, from 2:45 PM to 7:00 PM at William H. Gray III 30th Street, Suburban, Jefferson, Temple University and Penn Medicine stations.  Riders will be directed to wait in line at the concourse level to ensure safety and avoid overcrowding on platforms.