Students set earlier alarms and face crowded rides as SEPTA’s transit cuts turn Philadelphia school mornings upside down

Philadelphia students face longer commutes and earlier alarms as SEPTA imposes its largest-ever service cuts, slashing routes by 20% and raising fares. With 52,000 students relying on transit, crowded buses and costly alternatives like Ubers disrupt school mornings. The $200M deficit-driven cuts mirror looming reductions in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Dallas, and San Francisco, signaling nationwide transit struggles impacting families and education.