29 Percent SEPTA Fare Increase Proposed

PHILADELPHIA — SEPTA Tuesday announced what a proposal that includes a "historically high fare increase," impacting all transit modes and methods of payments.

At a news conference Tuesday morning, SEPTA said plans to increase fares across the board by 29 percent starting Jan. 1, 2025.

With that hike, base fares on SEPTA bus and metro lines would increase to $2.90.

Regional Rail prices would also increase to cost roughly $5 per ride in zone 1, $6.50 per ride in zone 2, $7.75 per ride in zone 3 and $8.75 per ride in zone 4.

According to NBC10, a state measure that would have provided $161 million in funding was killed by the state legislature this year.

In a news release Tuesday, SEPTA said the lack of state funding support led the authority to propose the fare hikes.

The regional transit authority Tuesday morning will provide details on the fare hikes, which it said will also come with "major service cuts." These service cuts will be announced and discussed at public hearings in 2025, the authority said.

This news comes as SEPTA and Transportation Workers United Local 234, which represents about 5,000 workers across SEPTA, continue contract negotiations and put off a transit strike.