Commuter alert! Starting Sunday, it will cost SEPTA riders $2.50 to ride the bus, subway and trolley. One-way regional rail fares also increase from $0.25 to $1 depending on where you board and exit.
The price increase comes as SEPTA implements a 7.5% fare increase to boost revenue as it faces a shortfall following the expiration of COVID-19 relief funds.
Earlier this month, on Friday, November 22, Pennsylvania state officials announced the state will do just that Divert or redirect $153 million in federal highway money to SEPTAenough to cover the shortfall. While speaking at the Frankford Transportation Center before several state and local political leaders, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that the money would come from seven highway projects that had not yet been bid for.
The funding will help keep SEPTA afloat until the next state budget deliberations in the summer. Counties served by SEPTA will also increase their contributions, Shapiro previously said.
Now customers who previously paid with Travel Wallet, SEPTA Key Tix and contactless fare on buses, subways and trolleys have to pay $0.50 more, same cost as SEPTA’s cash fare: $2.50. This means that customers who pay in cash will not be affected by the price increase.
SEPTA said the two free transfers on buses, subways and trolleys remain in effect. In addition, the carrier has eliminated restrictions on the direction of travel, allowing more round trips with one fare.
Regional Rail onboard fares remain the same regardless of time of day or day of the week. However, the transport company has stopped offering off-peak fare discounts on weekday evenings.
SEPTA also added three more stations – Overbrook, Wissahickon and Tulpehocken – to Zone 1, bringing the total number of Zone 1 stations to 18.
Passengers with weekly or monthly TransPass+ have access to all 18 stations at no extra cost. The SEPTA fare increase will not affect children under 12 or seniors 65 and older; both groups can still ride for free.
