Fresh off the heels of the City Septa workers strike and now that buses, subways, and trolleys are running again , SEPTA riders can brace for the next big event: a rate increase. SEPTA is Philadelphia's transit system.

SEPTA has been planning to increase fares in 2010 ever since it last boosted them in 2007. Regular smaller increases are better, SEPTA officials maintain, than infrequent big increases.

The day is drawing closer. Raises likely would be scheduled to take effect around July 1, the start of the agency's 2011 fiscal year.

SEPTA won't say how much fares may go up. But the agency has budgeted for a 9.5 percent increase in passenger revenue in fiscal 2011.

I think this timing needs to be reevaluated to encourage people to use mass transit as opposed to everyone driving in everyday.