2w ago

Today, Philadelphia’s transit system SEPTA is cutting service by 20%. What’s going to happen? A death spiral: Worse service ➡️ fewer riders ➡️ less revenue ➡️ worse service

Philadelphia’s transit system SEPTA is cutting service by 20% & eliminating 32 bus routes, since state legislators failed to fund the agency

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/septas-nightmarish-service-cuts-take-effect/4258785/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2025/08/23/philadelphia-transit-cuts/

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long inhale
PUBLIC SERVICES AREN’T SUPPOSED TO BE PROFITABLE OR EVEN REVENUE NEUTRAL
- In this case that's not even the issue. These public services by and large aren't revenue neutral because they increase the functioning of the city. The problem is, the state doesn't believe the city's taxes should improve the city, but it really all belongs to rural communities. The fact that public transit that drives increased out of state spending that directly increased sales tax revenue isn't even considered here because it's purely a rural/urban thing.
  What's happening is the rural senators are yelling at Philadelphia about stealing their wallet because Philadelphia reached back while the senators had their hand in Philadelphia's pocket.
  
  Perhaps the rural senators would like to pay their fair share of the infrastructure costs in their low density, low tax revenue housing?
Pittsburgh cut a LOT of lines this year too. And decreased the busses on the routes they kept open
That is the same thing they did in Denver Métro. Underperforming buses gone, now whole swaths of the suburbs have to Uber to the remaining stations. That makes no sense, at all, especially because Denver traffic is starting to bé a 24/7 jam and any motion towards mass transit benefits everyone.
- Similar thing is happening in Louisville KY. It's infuriating.
I’ve said it before, but cutting it even further than it already was cut is grim. Getting around through the system was already miserable from delays and infrequent service in a lot of places, especially if you’re used to the convenience of NYC transit (which admittedly also has its own problems). It’s been a few years since I’ve been on it but I can’t imagine it’s gotten any better, and now this.
Is the ultimate plan to ruin it for private companies to buy up on the cheap, I wonder?

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