Sunday morning

PHILADELPHIA — SEPTA, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, warned us for two years.

Some people stopped listening because impoverishment has been the perpetual soundtrack of the transit system, and salvation always seemed to arrive at the last minute.

Not this time. Massive cuts in SEPTA service began early Sunday morning.

For the people who ride transit, it’s going to mean a million individual daily disasters.

For the Philadelphia region, the question is whether SEPTA’s retrenchment triggers an economic decline. America is littered with cities like Baltimore or Detroit whose growth and vitality suffered as their transit systems withered.

Disruption will be immediate.

On the first day of school Monday, more than 50,000 Philadelphia students wi

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