At Careda's Caribbean Cuisine inside Reading Terminal Market, owner Careda Matthews says the recipes aren't the only thing she worries about these days. Though she drives to work each day, the rest of her employees depend on SEPTA to get to the restaurant, which is open daily. 

"It's going to cause undue burdens and stress," Matthews said. "I'm either going to have to get temporary help who can get in on time or they are going to have to find ways of getting here on time."

Matthews' restaurant is one of 80 family-owned vendors inside the historic market, according to CEO Annie Allman.

"Between my small housekeeping staff and all the merchants, we believe there are about 600 jobs immediately related to the market," Allman said.

Allman estimates about half of those employees rely on SEPTA for their daily commute. That includes workers like Marcus Henderson, who serves up ice cream at Bassetts.

"I do count on SEPTA a lot to get to work — and I don't have to pay for Ubers or anything, or get a car, because I work in the city," Henderson said.

Allman says she's bracing for the significant cuts.

"It's devastating. And it couldn't come at a worse year. We've got all the world coming to see Philadelphia for the semiquincentennial," she said.

The market isn't just a hub for tourists. It is also Pennsylvania's largest SNAP and EBT redemption site, according to Allman, where thousands of residents rely on public transit to access affordable groceries.

Destiny Maillard takes the El to the market to use her benefits.

"It's going to really affect me a lot — from coming down here, getting fresh produce for my kids," Maillard said. "I live in West Philly, and we don't have a lot of places, markets that even offer fresh produce."

As the deadline for SEPTA's service cuts approaches, Matthews says she worries about how wide-reaching these effects will be.

"Putting more money out for Ubers or taxis, that's going to be an issue," she said. "Not everybody has a car."

Meanwhile, she and many others are putting plans in place to handle the impact when the time comes.