SEPTA Schedules Public Hearings On FY 2008 Operating Buget Proposal
Proposed budget includes fare increase and possible service cuts
March 7, 2007
PHILADELPHIA, PA — SEPTA is scheduling a series of public hearings to provide specific information detailing possible fare increases and service cuts proposed for its 2008 (FY 08) Operating Budget.
Facing a projected budget deficit of $150 million on a proposed operating budget of $1.022 billion, SEPTA staff has developed budget plans that will address the shortfall based on the receipt of additional state subsidies as well as without added state funding.
The initial budget shortfall has been impacted by a number of SEPTA actions that have resulted in an anticipated reduction in the budget shortfall to $129 million. To address the shortfall, Budget Plan A includes an 11% fare increase that will generate $29 million in additional revenue while SEPTA would seek $100 million in state subsidy. However, without additional state subsidies SEPTA would be forced to implement the much more extreme and drastic measures in Budget Plan B. Plan B includes a 31% fare increase that will generate $69 million in additional revenue and a 20% across the board service reduction that would save $60 million in expenses. This plan would result in a ridership loss of approximately 20%.In addition, as part of Plan B about 1,000 SEPTA jobs would be eliminated.
In PA Governor Edward G. Rendell’s budget proposal presented in February, he reiterated the Pennsylvania Funding and Reform Commission’s report conclusion that statewide transit needs total $760 million annually and that a new dedicated funding source was necessary to provide the long-term viability of transit service throughout the state. As a solution, he recommended a 6.17% oil company gross profits tax.The new funds would address SEPTA’s budget shortfall and provide long term funding stability.
BUDGET PLAN A
FARE INCREASE
Fares increased by an average of 11%
There has been no SEPTA fare hike since 2001 (periodic fare increases were recommended in the PA Reform Commission report)
Cash Base Fare remains $2.00
Column listed as Standard proposal lists changes to existing SEPTA fares.Column listed as Simplification proposal is an alternative designed to simplify the fare structure.
TRANSIT DIVISIONS
Current Standard Simplification
Cash
$2.00 $2.00 $2.00
Tokens
$1.30 $1.45 $1.25
Transfer
$ .60 $ .75 Discontinued
Weekly
$18.75 $21.00 $20.50
TransPass
Monthly
$70.00 $79.00 $78.00
TransPass
Cross County
$85.00 $96.00 $96.00
Pass
DayPass
$5.50 $6.00 $6.00
PATCO
$2.10 $2.40 $2.40
Joint Fare
Suburban
Zones
$ .50 $ .50 Modified
PARATRANSIT FARES
Shared Ride (Seniors)
Current Standard Simplification
Cash
$3.50 $4.00 $4.00
Group
$3.20 $3.70 $3.70
ADA
(Riders with disabilities)
Current Standard Simplification
Cash
$3.50 $4.00 $4.00
Tokens
Two + $.50 Two + $.75 Three Tokens
Pass
Zone 2 Zone 2 Zone 2
TrailPass TrailPass TrailPass
REGIONAL RAIL FARES
·Column listed as Simplification Proposal reduces the number of fare zones by 2, calling for the merging of Zone 1 and Zone 2 stations to a single zone described as Zone 2. In addition, Zone 4 would also be eliminated and specific stations would become Zone 3 or Zone 5 according to air mile distance from Central Philadelphia.
Regional Rail Fares (for Zone 3 as an example)
Current Standard Simplification
Peak
(one-way)
$4.50 $5.00 $5.00
Off Peak
(one-way)
$3.00 $4.25 $4.25
Ten Trip
$42.50 $47.50 $47.50
Weekly
$34.50 $39.00 $39.00
Monthly
$126.50 $142.50 $142.50
BUDGET PLAN B
FARE INCREASE
·Fares increase by an average of 31%
·Cash Base Fare increases from $2.00 to $2.50
TRANSIT DIVISIONS
Current Standard Simplification
Cash
$2.00 $2.50 $2.50
Transfer
$ .60 $ .80 Discontinued
Weekly
$18.75 $25.00 $24.50
TransPass
Monthly
$70.00 $95.00 $94.00
TransPass
CrossCounty
$85.00 $112.00 $110.00
Pass
DayPass
$5.50 $7.50 $7.50
PATCO
Joint Fare
$2.10 $3.00 $2.30
Suburban
Zones
$ .50 $0.75 Modified
PARATRANSIT FARES
Shared Ride
(Seniors)
Current Standard Simplification
Cash
$3.50 $4.00 $4.00
Group
$3.20 $3.70 $3.70
ADA
(Riders with disabilities)
Current Standard Simplification
Cash
$3.50 $4.00 $4.00
Tokens
Two + $ .50
Pass
Zone 2 Zone 2 Zone 2
TrailPass TrailPass TrailPass
REGIONAL RAIL FARES
Regional Rail Fares (for Zone 3 as an example)
Current Standard Simplification
Peak
(one-way)
$4.50 $5.50 $5.50
Off Peak
(one-way)
$3.00 $5.50 $5.50
Ten Trip
$42.50 $52.50 $52.50
Weekly
$34.50 $45.00 $45.00
Monthly
$126.50 $165.00 $165.00
BUDGET PLAN B SERVICE REDUCTIONS
Weekday Service:
City Transit Division/Suburban Transit Division
·Scheduled weekday service will be reduced by 20% on 80 City Transit Division bus and trolley routes as well as the Broad Street and Market-Frankford subway-elevated lines and 44 Suburban Transit Division bus and trolley routes.In most cases service frequency will be decreased to reduce expenses by 20%.Wherever possible trips proposed for suspension would be those impacted by the fewest passengers.
Regional Rail Division
·Scheduled weekday service will be reduced by 20% on all regional rail lines. Service after 8 p.m. on most routes will be impacted, as well as mid-day service on several routes.Certain peak hour trains will be combined resulting in a loss of express service.
Weekend Service:
*City Transit Division
*Suburban Transit Division
*Regional Rail Division
*ParaTransit
·Modified Sunday service levels (that generally provide fewer trips than on Saturday schedules) will be operated on Saturdays on 74 City Transit Division bus and trolley routes as well as the Broad Street and Market-Frankford subway-elevated lines, 22 Suburban Transit Division bus and trolley routes and all regional rail lines.Paratransit ADA services will also operate on modified Sunday service levels on Saturdays.
JOB ACCESS AND REVERSE COMMUTE SERVICES
·Routes and specific trips that receive Job Access and Reverse Commute funding from the Federal Transit Administration are proposed for discontinuation, as the possibility exists that SEPTA may not receive the necessary 50% match from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
City Transit Division
·Trips scheduled on bus Routes 1, 14 and 37
·All Saturday service on Route 1
·All Owl (late night) service on bus Routes 14, 18, 20, 56, 65 and L
Suburban Transit Division
·Trips scheduled on bus Routes 95, 96, 110, 111, 113, 124, 129 and 201
·All Sunday service on Route 105
·All Owl (late night) service on bus Routes 108 and 109
·Discontinuance of all service on bus Routes 304 and 305
PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Delaware County Meeting Room
201 W. Front Street
Media, PA 19063
2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Montgomery County Human Service Center
(formerly Sacred Heart Hospital)
Community Room – Main Floor
1430 DeKalb Pike
Norristown, PA 19404
2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Pennsylvania Convention Center
One Convention Center Place
1101 Arch Street, Room 204 ABC
Phila., PA 19107
11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Friday, April 13, 2007
West Chester Borough Hall
Council Chambers
401 E. Gay Street
West Chester, PA 19380
2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Bucks County Free Library
Pearl Buck Meeting room
150 South Pine Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
After the conclusion of the public hearings, a hearing examiner’s recommendation will be presented to the SEPTA Board.The SEPTA Board is scheduled to consider the budget proposal at its May 24th Board meeting.The proposal effective date for fare increases and service reductions is July 1, 2007.While we are hopeful that efforts in Harrisburg will result in a long term solution and that the Budget Plan B option will not be necessary, we must be prepared to take actions to balance the budget.
|
