The transit authority in Philadelphia says unless a state funding package is approved by this Thursday the first round of service cuts to bus, rail and trolley service will go into effect ten days later.

“If funding is not secured by … (the 14th), these painful cuts will go into effect on Aug. 24,” said Scott Sauer, general manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.

That 20% service reduction will be followed by a fare hike on Sept. 1, and 25% more service cuts on Jan. 1.

“At that point,” Sauer said in a statement on the SEPTA website, “we will be left with no other choice but to begin dismantling the SEPTA system.”

“Tens of thousands of people or more will be left with no viable public transportation options,” Sauer said of the situation in the nation’s sixth largest metro area.

Other than the time frame and dollars involved, the Philadelphia situation is basically the same as what could happen to Metra, CTA, and PACE in the Chicago area … massive service cuts plus fare increases in 2026 unless there is a state assistance plan.

Evanston is served by Metra’s UP North line, the CTA Purple Line, and multiple CTA and PACE bus routes.

In Pennsylvania, the Democratic-controlled State House has just passed a $292 million transportation plan, which covers the transit cliff and also adds money for highways.

However, the Republican-controlled Senate, with its rural GOP members, has so far resisted helping the big cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with additional transit money.

In Illinois, the Democrats control both houses of the Legislature, but that does not mean a transit package is a slam-dunk.

The fiscal cliff here is $771 million (Chicago’s mass transit system is larger than the one in Philly). Illinois legislators were unable to reach agreement before they adjourned at the end of May. They’ll be back in October.

If there is no deal, Metra, CTA, and PACE are talking about a 40% service cut.

Illinois lawmakers have been saying they’re optimistic that some sort of deal will happen before the cuts take effect.

Even in Pennsylvania, the transit manager said “We remain optimistic that a funding agreement can be reached by Aug. 14. We will continue working with lawmakers in any way we can to help get this over the finish line.”

But the line is getting closer.