In a decisive move that has halted further reductions to public transit services, a Philadelphia judge has issued a temporary injunction against the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). The recent ruling puts a stop to planned fare increases and service cuts to the Regional Rail, initially set for early September.
The service reductions, which were paused until another hearing scheduled for September 4, could have deeply cut into the daily routines of city commuters. According to a report by PhillyBurbs, SEPTA had planned a 21.5% rate hike supposed to go into effect the following Monday. It's currently unclear how the injunction will to directly affect the slated fare increases.
Litigator George Bochetto has taken a stand in court, arguing the cuts disproportionately burdened Philadelphia's communities of color and low-income residents. Bochetto's action has led to Judge Sierra Thomas-Street's ruling in favor of a temporary restraint, as Bochetto alleged SEPTA's financial plight was exaggerated to obtain more state funding. This was reported in an interview with Bochetto by Trains Magazine.
'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,' Mayor Cherelle Parker said in a release obtained by Trains Magazine. With eight bus routes slated to be restored by mid-September, it seems the city is urging to provide alternative solutions for its commuters. Meanwhile, SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer conveyed the agency's intent to comply with the judge's decision, despite initial concerns about turning around the system on short notice. 'We know we needed 10 days to turn this around, so we're going to take a look and see how best we can comply with that order,' Sauer told CBS News Philadelphia.
Despite the temporary hold on SEPTA's plans, cuts to bus, trolley, and subway lines implemented earlier will remain intact for the moment. The judge did not mandate a reversal of the cuts made on August 24, and the transit authority is expected to present additional testimony at the upcoming court date.
