Several bus routes to be eliminated, starting Sunday, in first phase of SEPTA cuts in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- We are now less than a week away from the start of massive SEPTA service cuts.

Buses will be impacted first, starting on Sunday, which means there'll be a lot of changes at stations, like the Wissahickon Transportation Center.

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Some buses will no longer go as far into the city as they used to.

"When I think of the bus cuts, I think of not just my bus cuts but also all my students who come from all over the city, from Northeast, West, South, North Philly," said Mei Moerder, who takes the bus from the Wissahickon Transportation Center to Center City, where she teaches.

Ahead of the cuts, the transit agency is taking steps to help riders be ready for the changes that begin on Sunday.

SEPTA is now deploying ambassadors to the areas that will be most affected.

They are handing out flyers at the center with all of the cuts and service reductions.

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Action News has learned that eight bus routes that come through Wissahickon Transportation Center will either be eliminated or shortened, starting on Sunday, which is also one day before Philadelphia students return to school.

"I feel like, as adults, we can kind of handle the ruckus at first, but our students, for example, are going to have a lot more trouble," Moerder said.

"I think it's terrible. People got to get to work. Kids got to get to school," added Quinton Davis, of Cheltenham.

It's a big concern at many schools, including Baldi Middle School in Philadelphia's Bustleton section.

"That can lead to increased lateness for our students. That can lead to absenteeism," said Bianca Gillis, the principal at Baldi Middle School.

Gillis says the majority of the 1,600 students at Baldi Middle rely on SEPTA and that the shortest walk to school for students will now be about 40 minutes if the cuts go into effect.

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Over in Northeast Philadelphia, there were protests outside of Republican State Senator Joe Picozzi's office.

One group rallied in support of him as he seeks more oversight of SEPTA.

However, others were protesting, saying they believe the Republican-led Senate isn't doing enough to pass funding to keep SEPTA afloat.

"It's a huge responsibility and it's a responsibility I take incredibly seriously," said Sen. Picozzi. "And it's important for all of us to stand together, fight together and work together diligently for the people that we serve."

"I will continue rallying every week and hold our lawmakers accountable until they find a real solution to stop the cuts to SEPTA," said Stephen Bronskill, the coalition manager for Transit Forward Philly.

SEPTA officials say even if they get funding before cuts go into effect on Sunday, they'll still need a few days to get normal operations back up and running.