Report: After 10 year low, SEPTA sees 30% reduction in serious crime in 2026

In a report released Tuesday, SEPTA said it continues to see the lowest serious crime rate since, at least, 2015, while the rate of serious crimes across its system dropped an additional 30% in the first quarter of 2026.

“Since peaking during the pandemic, crime across the system has consistently declined,” said SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer in a statement on the report. “This progress is the result of a comprehensive approach that combines increased staffing, targeted enforcement, investments in modern technology, and improvements to station and vehicle infrastructure.”

Last year, SEPTA officials said overall, SEPTA’s transit police reported a 6% reduction in serious crimes compared to the year prior — including a 33% reduction in shootings.

With the release of a report on Tuesday, SEPTA officials said it saw a 30% reduction across the board in serious crimes for the first quarter of 2026, compared to last year — including a 42% decrease in serious crimes on the Market-Frankford Line alone.

As listed in the report, SEPTA saw significant reductions in five of the eight serious crime categories, including aggravated assaults and robberies.

In a statement, SEPTA officials said its transit police continue to prioritize fare evasion by expanding targeted enforcement details at stations.

At the same time, SEPTA is installing more full-height fare gates. It recently installed new gates at Cecil B. Moore Station and plans to install more than 200 full-height fare gates at more stations.

SEPTA said the first phase of this plan, covering 10 stations, was completed earlier this month and the proposed budget for next year plans to bring gates to another 13 stations.

Officials attributed police efforts and the new gates to an overall 10% reduction in fare evasion for the first quarter of 2026.

“We are building on that progress in 2026 and pursuing additional strategies to strengthen fare compliance, including modifications to legacy turnstiles,” said SEPTA Transit Police Chief Charles Lawson in a statement. “We are also continuing to focus and invest resources on recruiting and retaining Transit Police Officers, with six experienced officers joining the force this month and another 16 cadets expected to graduate police academy in June.”

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