Have your say on SEPTA’s budget

SEPTA has added evening hearings for suburban riders that want to weigh in on the controversial proposed fare increase and the postponement of major capital projects like new fare technology thanks to the rejection of I-80 tolls.

In addition to the originally scheduled 2 p.m. hearings, residents in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester counties can also attend at 6 p.m. to weigh in on the budget.

“Those people who are working during the day, they should be able to travel right to the meeting from work and have their say,” said spokeswoman Jerri Williams.

The meetings could draw a crowd in light of plans to raise fares about 6 percent. The agency also wants to eliminate daytime off-peak Regional Rail trains and consolidate zones.

“This is hitting some passengers considerably harder than others,” said Matthew Mitchell, of the Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers. “The TrailPass increase for most zones is 10 percent, not 6 percent. … It’s moving in the opposite direction from what SEPTA ought to be doing.”