Students in the areas most affected by SEPTA service cutbacks will be able to get to school on time and safely as budget negotiations continue 

PHILADELPHIA – Today, the City of Philadelphia announced a plan to restore SEPTA school transportation service using a portion of the existing $135 million transit subsidy in the City’s “One Philly 2.0” Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Budget. Effective Tuesday, September 2, this agreement will allow SEPTA to restore priority routes that were eliminated or reduced, which will enable students to get to school on time and return home safely, while alleviating crowding for all riders.

“We are proud that our City teams moved quickly with SEPTA to find a way to restore transit services in the areas where students are most affected by the cutbacks that started on the first day of school this week,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “Making sure that all of our city’s children and youth can get to school on time and safely is one of our top priorities. We need our students – Philadelphia’s future – to be at school learning and participating in extracurricular activities without interruption or challenges.”

SEPTA agreed in concept to dedicate a portion of the City’s extra operating subsidy paid to the transit agency in FY26 to restore service to priority bus lines that enable students to get to school and alleviate crowding. This development comes as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to support impacted transit riders during the current Pennsylvania state budget impasse.

Beginning Tuesday, September 2nd, service will be augmented on routes that serve a significant number of students to reduce crowding and pass-ups – the 14, 20, 23, 26, 47, 63, 67, 70, 82, T2, and T5.  By mid-September about 10 business days, to enable students to get to school, service will be restored on the 84, 88, and six 400-level routes (452, 461, 462, 476, 478, 484). Service on the 31 will be restored from Overbrook Park to 63rd and Market streets. A restored schedule for these routes will be published later in the month.

SEPTA worked closely with the Transportation Workers Union Local 234 to put together a plan to operationalize the service.

This state budget impasse remains a dynamic situation, and we encourage all residents and community stakeholders to check for transit updates on SEPTA’s Service Cuts webpage and the City’s dedicated blog post here.