SEPTA Says Funds Needed to Avoid Service Cuts

The transit agency serving the Philadelphia area said Thursday that it will have to significantly reduce service over the next 10 years if it doesn't get major new funding.
 
Ridership has reached its highest levels in more than two decades, but the state has reduced funding for four straight years for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, general manager Joseph Casey testified at a Pennsylvania Senate transportation committee hearing held at Temple University.
 
The transit agency said that the system will need $6.5 billion over the next 10 years to make critically needed repairs. If that revenue doesn't come through the agency will have to make adjustments that could leave 89,000 daily riders without rail service.
 
The equipment needs include bridges that date back 100 years or more and new rail cars, subway cars and trolleys to replace ones that are already at least 30 years old and well beyond their useful service life.
 
Without the new funding SEPTA expects that it will have to eliminate service over the next ten years on nine of 13 commuter rail lines, including Cynwyd in 2014, Media/Elwyn in 2015, and Chestnut Hill West in 2018. West Trenton, Airport/Warminster, Wilmington/Newark, Fox Chase and Chestnut Hill East could be eliminated in 2023.
 
The agency might also convert all city and suburban trolley routes to bus service.