Mercer County officials and business leaders are pushing back against potential cuts to SEPTA rail service in New Jersey, warning of widespread disruption if service to Trenton and West Trenton stations is discontinued.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority announced last week that without additional funding from the Pennsylvania Legislature, it will face a $213 million budget deficit starting July 1, 2025. To address this shortfall, SEPTA has proposed cutting service by 45% and raising fares by over 20%, measures that would significantly impact the region’s transit infrastructure.
Among the proposed cuts are the elimination of SEPTA lines that cross into New Jersey, including regional rail routes that connect Trenton and Ewing to Philadelphia and its suburbs. Local leaders say that would undermine decades of progress in regional transportation planning and hurt residents who rely on the lines for work, education, medical care, and access to larger transit hubs.
“SEPTA’s proposed cuts would have a devastating impact on Mercer County residents and those in the surrounding areas who rely on this line for their daily commute,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson. “As both County Executive and former Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, I’ve always believed in investing in—rather than divesting from—quality mass transit.”
Benson also pointed to the county’s ongoing support for projects like the redevelopment of Trenton-Mercer Airport and multimodal infrastructure in the capital city, emphasizing that regional growth depends on reliable, cross-border transit.
Trenton officials echoed those concerns, highlighting the Trenton Transit Center’s role as a critical interchange between Amtrak, NJ Transit, and SEPTA services.
“Trenton Train Station serves tens of thousands of commuters and is a critical transportation hub,” said Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. “The news of SEPTA shutting down service to Trenton will have a detrimental impact not only on our residents, but also on the economy of the greater Philadelphia region.”
Business advocates warned that reducing service would cut off easy access to Philadelphia for New Jersey residents and negatively impact tourism and regional commerce. The president of the Princeton-Mercer Regional Chamber said rising transportation costs and fewer public transit options could reduce attendance at events, concerts, and sports games across the river.
SEPTA has already implemented austerity measures, including a hiring freeze and administrative cuts, to reduce its budget deficit from $240 million to $213 million. However, officials say further reductions would necessitate significant service cuts and fare increases.
The agency’s financial challenges are exacerbated by the expiration of federal pandemic relief funding and rising operational costs. SEPTA has requested increased state support and has backed Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposal to allocate additional transit funding in the upcoming budget. But the measure still requires legislative approval, and no deal has been finalized.
In the meantime, communities on both sides of the Delaware River continue to advocate for preserving SEPTA’s cross-border service—a rare but crucial link between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
