Fifty years ago on Tuesday, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) held its first organizational meeting, forming the beginnings of today’s transit system.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, according to SEPTA officials, public transportation in the Philadelphia region was failing. A number of factors, including the growing popularity of the car, families and jobs moving to the suburbs, and too many private transit providers competing for the same riders, resulted in a steady decline in the use of mass transit.
With profits falling, nearly bankrupt transit and rail companies were looking to exit the passenger business altogether. The need for government intervention and the establishment of a permanent body to run urban transit and coordinate regional service was apparent.
The problem was solved when SEPTA was charged with the planning, development, and coordination of a regional transportation system for Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties.
Starting with the absorption of the Philadelphia Transit Company (PTC) in September 1968, SEPTA evolved to become the nation's sixth largest public transportation system and one of only two agencies that operate bus, subway, trolley bus, and commuter rail all under one umbrella, serving nearly 340 million riders each year.
SEPTA is planning a year-long campaign with stories from the past to celebrate 50 years of service to the region. A list of upcoming events and programs includes:
