2025 has been a memorable year for Pennsylvania public transit, for better \u2013 and for worse. While the state\u2019s budget impasse \u2013 and ongoing financial struggles for transit systems \u2013 created a rocky road for public transit statewide, in the Philadelphia region, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority faced an unsteady fiscal situation and service cuts that would drastically impact the system\u2019s operations in the region.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the second in a two-part series on SEPTA\u2019s tumultuous track in 2025 \u2013 and how we got here. To read Part 1, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n September<\/p>\n The school year began with service cuts for the Philadelphia region. Following the legislative back-and-forth that delayed the state budget months past its June 30 deadline, SEPTA shifted to using capital funds to plug holes in its operating budget.<\/p>\n In early September, SEPTA announced it received approval from Gov. Josh Shapiro\u2019s administration and the Department of Transportation to use up to $394 million<\/a> in capital assistance funds for daily operations for the next two years. While SEPTA\u2019s request appeared similar to the spending plan passed by the Republican-controlled state Senate in August, the use of nearly $400 million in capital funds, while not exactly the same as the GOP proposal, did seek to transfer critical capital funds to fund ongoing operations costs.\u00a0<\/p>\n The short-term solution came with an agreement that no major capital projects will be delayed \u2013 and with an assumption that a long-term funding source will be established to replenish the capital project account.<\/p>\n PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said in a Sept. 8 letter<\/a> that SEPTA must guarantee that its use of Public Transportation Trust Fund funds will not result in the deferral of existing capital projects, arguing the Senate GOP\u2019s spending plan \u2013 which would draw dollars from the PTTF without such discretion \u2013 would fail to meet the needs of the commonwealth\u2019s public transit systems.<\/p>\n With temporary funds in hand, SEPTA moved to restore service by Sept. 14, roughly three weeks after service cuts took effect.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sauer said that while the service cuts were in place, the number of bus trips running late increased by 26% compared to normal operations.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOver the last two weeks, we\u2019ve seen the devastating effects the service cuts have had on our riders,\u201d Sauer said, adding that the number of bus trips post-service reduction running late was up 26% compared to the same period in 2024. \u201cOur riders deserve better, and they deserve stability.\u201d<\/p>\n October<\/p>\n SEPTA\u2019s situation only got scarier as the fall went on.\u00a0<\/p>\n With an aging railcar fleet and no resolution in sight, federal officials intervened. The National Transportation Safety Board issued a warning to SEPTA on Oct. 1 to take immediate action to address fire risks<\/a> in its fleet of Silverliner IV railcars. The move came after a series of railcar fires this year, including two in September.\u00a0<\/p>\n U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that the Federal Railroad Administration issued an emergency order<\/a> to SEPTA, urging the agency to implement several safety measures to reduce the risk of fires and other malfunctions.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAt my direction, FRA is taking swift and immediate action to ensure the safety of all passengers and transit workers on SEPTA. This includes deploying our team of experts to SEPTA\u2019s trains, repair shops, and dispatch center to ensure thorough safety precautions are being implemented,\u201d Duffy said in a statement. \u201cRecent fires and ongoing mechanical problems are unacceptable to such a critical rail line. Under President Trump, we will always put the safety of the American people first. SEPTA must take action to correct these persistent dangers.\u201d<\/p>\n SEPTA officials pushed back, noting that the agency had developed mitigation measures and would continue to use its Regional Rail vehicles, as it remains confident in their safety.\u00a0<\/p>\n Duffy claimed \u201cgross mismanagement\u201d at SEPTA was the cause of the agency\u2019s safety and financial issues, a notion with which Shapiro and SEPTA took issue.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe gross mismanagement and neglect of Pennsylvania\u2019s rail and bus systems is alarming,\u201d Duffy said in a statement, warning that his department could force SEPTA to stop using its aging fleet of rail cars due to fire risks. \u201cAs the head of the state, I\u2019m calling on Josh Shapiro to oversee the safety of riders and transit workers. It\u2019s time to get SEPTA\u2019s fiscal house in order.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Sauer said he remained confident the railcars are safe, while Shapiro shifted blame toward state Senate Republicans in his statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI secured $46 million for SEPTA last year. I flexed $153 million from highway projects to keep SEPTA from going under,\u201d Shapiro\u2019s social media post read. \u201cAnd I called for $165 million in new sustainable funding for SEPTA in my budget plan this year \u2013 but Harrisburg Republicans refuse to get it done.\u201d<\/p>\n November<\/p>\n Even as budget negotiations began to heat up, it became clear that as the year was coming to an end, SEPTA\u2019s financial woes wouldn\u2019t. With no legislative resolution on the horizon, Shapiro announced in late November that his administration was directing $219.9 million in additional capital funding<\/a> to SEPTA to address fleet safety issues and restore full Regional Rail service.<\/p>\n In a statement, Shapiro said the direction is for PennDOT to transfer funds from the PTTF’s emergency reserve to support SEPTA’s safety and infrastructure upgrades.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMy Administration is stepping up once again to provide SEPTA with the funding it needs to complete critical repairs, meet federal safety requirements, and restore full service \u2013 but we need a long-term solution,\u201d Shapiro said in a statement. \u201cI will keep fighting for additional recurring funding for mass transit in Harrisburg so that we can invest in mass transit systems, including SEPTA, all across the Commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n The redirected funds were then utilized to help SEPTA meet its ongoing operational needs, including upgrading electrical systems, overhead wires, escalators and obtaining replacement parts for rail cars.<\/p>\n At the same time, Harrisburg lawmakers were finally coming together on a state budget deal. But the bipartisan fiscal plan, approved by the Democrat-led House and Republican-led Senate, failed to include any long-term funding solution for public transit systems statewide.\u00a0<\/p>\n The $50.09 billion state budget<\/a>, approved 135 days after the original deadline, fell below Shapiro\u2019s initial spending plan figures and included an agreement that no money would be taken out of the state\u2019s Rainy Day Fund \u2013 a critical point for Republicans.\u00a0<\/p>\n Public transit advocates expressed disappointment at the lack of long-term funding and blamed both parties for kicking the can further down the road.\u00a0<\/p>\n The transfer of PTTF funds \u201conly underscores that the failure to pass new money for transit in this budget has consequences for all of our communities across the state,\u201d Transit for All PA said in a statement in November. \u201cMoving money around from pot to pot does not invest in our economy, our healthcare, our educational attainment, and our mobility, all of which depend on transit.\u201d<\/p>\n December<\/p>\n The Center City Philadelphia trolley tunnel, closed since the beginning of November for repairs to its overhead catenary wire system, will remain closed through the remainder of the year, SEPTA announced on Dec. 17. The tunnel, damaged in two separate incidents in October, doesn\u2019t have a reopening date, but officials say they\u2019re hopeful service would resume in January.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n