Potential SEPTA route cuts a worry for parents, but a school district program may help

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- There are more than 198,000 students in the School District of Philadelphia, and nearly a quarter of them rely on SEPTA to get to class.

Unless lawmakers agree on a transportation funding package for the state of Pennsylvania, a number of SEPTA routes will be cut one day before the new school year begins.

Parents are not only saddled with the problem, they're also tasked with finding their own solutions.

Autumn Fingerhood is one of those parents searching for answers. Her daughter, Olivia, is preparing for her sophomore year in high school.

She's been riding SEPTA buses to school since 6th grade.

"Her traveling time for high school is over an hour," said Fingerhood, adding that her work schedule makes it impossible to take her daughter to and from school every day.

Fingerhood is concerned about reduced routes that could result from a lack of SEPTA funding. The literal warning signs are already posted at bus stops near her neighborhood.

"One of them already, there's a sign up that says there will be discontinued service on this route," said Fingerhood.

Even the bus routes that remain could have issues.

"I believe it will be a longer wait time," she said, "so that's more traveling."

Olivia is just one of the 52,000 students in the School District of Philadelphia who rely on SEPTA to get to and from school.

"It's really important that we do everything we can to fulfil our obligation to make sure they have transportation to school," said School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington.

The district encourages parents to make a plan and consider options like carpools. The district also offers what could be a possible solution for some parents. It's called the Parent Flat Rate program.

"(Parents) drop their students off and pick them up at dismissal, they can get $300 (per month)," said Monique Braxton, Deputy Chief of Communications for the School District of Philadelphia.

The $300 per month is per household. Parents who take their children to school but have them ride the bus home can be reimbursed $150 a month.

"You have to qualify," said Braxton of the application process, which is now open. "Your child has to live more than a mile and a half from their school."

It could be just the solution some parents need, but it won't work for Fingerhood, who has three jobs. She said she would have to leave one of them in order to be able to provide transportation for her daughter.

"Ultimately, I have to work, because I need to provide for my family," said Fingerhood of the dilemma.

"It's just going to be devastating," said Jesse Abrams-Morley, who is a teacher at Kensington CAPA High School.

With no car, his entire family relies on SEPTA, but he's not just worried about them. He's also worried about his students.

"You're just going to have more kids that are late, more kids not showing up. And again we need kids in school," said Abrams-Morley.

Nearly twice as many students ride SEPTA compared to the number of students who ride the yellow school buses. Right now, adding more yellow buses is not an option.

"There's a shortage of bus drivers or resources to go out and commandeer to get a lot of additional school buses," said Watlington.

Now, it's up to parents to figure things out as the debate over transportation funding continues in Harrisburg.

"They're debating politics," said Fingerhood.

Fingerhood is among the many parents now looking for a path forward.

"Everyone's going to have an opinion. I get that," she said, "but I don't think there should be opinions or debates when it comes to our children getting to school."

Action News reached out to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to inquire about Catholic schools that may also be impacted by potential SEPTA route cuts.

At the moment, the Archdiocese didn't have anything concrete to pass along when it comes to the impact of SEPTA cuts.

For more information on the Parent Flat Rate program, including the online application, click here: https://www.philasd.org/transportation/#parentflatrate