The SEPTA Board today approved fare changes for Fiscal Year 2018, including modest increases across all modes of travel and methods of payment.
In keeping with the recommendations of the Pennsylvania Transportation Funding and Reform Commission, SEPTA has adopted a policy of making periodic fare adjustments, with increases in 2007, 2010 and 2013. This proposal represents the next regularly scheduled fare increase – the 2016 increase was postponed one year to allow time for the initial rollout of the SEPTA Key.
Fare revenues help fund SEPTA’s Operating Budget, which provides for the everyday expenses of running the system, such as labor, fuel and power.
The fare changes go into effect at the start of Fiscal Year 2018 on July 1, 2017. This proposal builds on efforts implemented with the last increase to simplify the fare structure for customers as they switch to the SEPTA Key. For example, the new proposal removes “premium fares” on the Norristown High Speed Line and bus routes 123, 124, 125 and 150 – making these permanent standard-fare rides.
Below is a summary of changes to some of the most widely used fare payment methods. The full details of the fare increase are posted online at https://www.septa.org/notice/fare-change-hearing.html:
- Cash Fare/Quick Trip: Increase from $2.25 to $2.50
- Discounted single ride with SEPTA Key Travel Wallet/Token: From $1.80 to $2
- Disabled Fare: From $1 to $1.25
- Paratransit/Shared Ride: $4 to $4.25
- Weekly TransPass: From $24 to $25.50 (up to 56 trips for one customer)
- Monthly TransPass: From $91 to $96 (up to 240 trips for one customer)
- Weekly TrailPasses: Currently $27.25-$53, depending on zone; Increase to $28.25-$55.75 (up to 56 trips for one customer)
- Monthly TrailPasses: Currently $101-$191, depending on zone; Increase to $105-$204 (up to 240 trips for one customer)
- Convenience Pass: From $8 to $9
- Independence Pass: Individual – $12 to $13; Family – $29 to $30
- Ten Trip Discounted Fares for Regional Rail: Currently $38-80 depending on zone; Increase to $40-$82.50. (Please note: Ten-Trip Tickets will be replaced upon implementation of the SEPTA Key)
- Parking: Regional Rail surface lot daily parking fee will increase from $1 to $1.25 with implementation of the SEPTA Key. Surface lot monthly permits will increase from $20 to $25.
The Board’s vote follows a public hearing process that included 10 hearings, two in each of the five counties that make up SEPTA’s service region. Customers, residents, stakeholders and other members of the public were encouraged to attend, ask questions and submit comments.
An independent hearing examiner oversaw the hearings and made recommendations to SEPTA on the proposal. Per the examiner’s recommendations, SEPTA will conduct a study regarding the $1 transfer fee for buses, subways and trolleys as it collects relevant ridership data with the expansion of the SEPTA Key fare modernization project. The hearing examiner did not recommend any changes to the fare increase proposal, which was released to the public in March, one month prior to the start of the hearings.
For more information about SEPTA, visit www.septa.org.