SEPTA will hold the first of a series of hearings on the Fiscal Year 2015 Operating Budget and Five-Year Financial Plan on Wednesday, April 16, in Doylestown, Bucks County. The hearings provide riders and other residents an opportunity to ask questions and submit comments on the spending plan.

SEPTA’s proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2015, the 12-month period from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, is $1.33 billion, an increase of approximately 3 percent over Fiscal Year 2014. The operating budget provides funding for the everyday costs of running the transit system, such as labor, fuel and power.

The proposed Fiscal Year 2015 Operating Budget maintains current SEPTA service levels, and would not result in a fare increase fares for riders. It also includes a pilot program this summer for 24-hour weekend service on the Broad Street Line subway and Market-Frankford Line subway/elevated.

To engage the public in the budget process, SEPTA holds two hearings in each of the five counties in which it operates. Please visit https://www.septa.org/notice/budget.html for the public hearing schedule.

Public comments are considered before the budget proposal goes before the SEPTA Board for a vote at its monthly meeting in May.

In addition to the public hearings, SEPTA will accept written comments by email or regular mail through April 29. For more information on how to submit comments, please visit https://www.septa.org/notice/budget.html.