How Do SEPTA Service Cuts Affect Chester County Municipalities?

By Theodore T. Speedy, Jr., Esq.

Today the first phase of reductions begins for SEPTA service cuts, affecting the following municipalities in Chester County with a 20% service cut.

Chester County Municipalities Affected by Service Cuts

• Of the 32 bus routes eliminated in the region, the Chester County bus routes eliminated this month include the 204 (from Paoli to Eagleview) and the 206 (from Paoli to Great Valley).
• Of the 16 bus routes shortened, those reduced or shortened in the Chester County area include the 99 (from Phoenixville to Norristown), the 104 (from West Chester to 69th Street, Upper Darby), the 125 (from Valley Forge to Philadelphia), the 135 (from Coatesville to West Chester) and the 139 (from Limerick to King of Prussia).
• End of all special service on Regional Rail Lines and bus/Metro routes, including Sports Express

If no funding is secured by September 2025, a 21.5% fare increase will be imposed.

If the deficit continues through to January 1, 2026, SEPTA will impose an additional 25% service cut.

Additional Future SEPTA Service Cuts

• 5 Regional Rail routes eliminated, including the R5 or Paoli Line, from Coatesville to Philadelphia
• 18 additional bus routes eliminated
• Broad-Ridge Spur [B3] eliminated
• Routes 10 [T1] and 15 [G1] trolleys converted to buses
• 9 pm curfew on all remaining Metro and Regional Rail services

SEPTA services 800,000 riders daily. If the service cuts continue in effect, commuters should anticipate added congestion on highways and local roads. It is estimated that 275,000 additional cars will be using roadways. But beyond the traffic, it is estimated that a disruption to public transportation will have secondary effects on the local economy.

Potential Losses for Chester County Municipalities and School Districts

If the total planned cuts are made to SEPTA services, there will be an estimated $19.9 billion dollars in total loss in property values from these cuts. Further, there could be up to 76,700 potential jobs lost, with a corresponding $6 billion in potential lost earnings. These reductions to the local economy amount to an estimated $55 million in lost property tax revenues to Chester County municipalities and school districts.

Municipal leadership should ensure that they stay up to date on the current status of the cuts, to properly address citizen concerns. Further, if cuts continue, local communities need to consider impacts to local infrastructure and budget forecasting. For more information on the status of SEPTA service cuts, visit: https://wwww.septa.org/fundingcrisis/

A U.S. navy veteran and former civil engineer, Theodore T. Speedy, Jr. is a government and municipal law attorney at Gawthrop Greenwood, PC, where he advises municipalities on a wide range of legal matters, including governance, personnel, compliance and public policy. He has also defended clients in civil rights, tort and employment discrimination cases in state and federal courts. For more information, contact Theo at tspeedy@gawthrop.com or 610-696-8225.