SEPTA is preparing to introduce new technology that will allow riders to pay for trips with their smart phones, according to reports. The mobile ticket program is expected to launch by October, and will be available on all modes of transit except Regional Rail.

Only Android and iPhone users will be able to use this new feature and those who have a SEPTA Key account. One of the advantages of the new technology is that “multi-tapping” will be allowed, which means rides for other people (up to five) can be purchased on a single SEPTA Key account, something SEPTA Key cards are not devised to do.

The initial testing phase of the new technology took place in May and mostly included SEPTA employees. The second testing phase is expected to launch next month and SEPTA is seeking users not as familiar with the program. If you have one of the phones mentioned above and a SEPTA Key account and would like to participate in the pilot, fill out this online form.

Regional Rail users will have to wait until at least Spring 2023 to use mobile tickets. For more info, check out this article by Billy Penn.

This is a reminder that SEPTA will stop selling paper transfers beginning August 1st.

Paper transfers for travel on buses, subways and trolleys will stop being issued at the end of the service day on Tuesday, July 31. Starting August 1, to receive a qualifying $1 transfer, customers will need to use a SEPTA Key Card with Travel Wallet. Customers who are eligible for reduced fare travel will need to use a SEPTA Key Card with Travel Wallet to receive the half-fare $0.50 transfer.

This is the latest effort by SEPTA to encourage more customers to switch to the Key Card, which was launched in June 2016. The majority of SEPTA customers have already made the switch.

After eliminating token and magnetic stripe TransPass sales at SEPTA-operated locations in the spring, SEPTA will also end third-party retail sales of tokens and magnetic stripe passes by Aug. 1.

For more information about the SEPTA Key Fare program, visit: www.septakey.org.

As SEPTA Key card sales have increased, SEPTA is phasing out token sales.

If you’re still using SEPTA tokens for your rides, take note: Starting in mid-January 2018, SEPTA will begin the process of phasing out token sales at cashiers’ booths and vending machines at Market-Frankford and Broad Street Line stations. Tokens will continue to be sold at major SEPTA sales offices, Regional Rail stations, and at over 200 third-party retailers until further notice.

More and more riders are making the transition to the SEPTA Key, and token sales have been steadily declining. About half of the station vending machines on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines have already been removed. Beginning in mid-January, cashier sales will end and the 40 remaining token machines will be removed over a six-week period. Token sales at all these locations are expected to end on or about March 1, 2018. The full phase-out schedule will be posted on SEPTA’s website, www.septa.org, in early January.  Continue Reading

Here’s a reminder that SEPTA fare increases will go into effect on Saturday, July 1, 2017, the start of the new fiscal year. Fares will increase across all modes of transportation and methods of payment.

SEPTA cash fare will go up to $2.50 from $2.25; single rides with a token/SEPTA Key Travel Wallet will increase to $2.00 from $1.80. Transfers will remain at $1. Here’s a summary of changes to some of the most widely used fare payment methods. The full details are available on the SEPTA website.

• 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)  Continue Reading

Starting Monday, March 13, SEPTA customers can fully transition to paying for their rides with a Key Card (just tap and go!). SEPTA is expanding the Travel Wallet feature to Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line and major bus loop fare kiosks, and riders will be able to purchase a Key Card at fair kiosks and load it with money starting on the following dates at the following Market-Frankford Line stations in West Philly (Note: SEPTA Key Cards and Travel Wallet are already available at 69th Street Transportation Center and 1234 Market Street fare kiosks):

Tuesday, March 14

– 30th Street
– 34th Street

Wednesday, March 15

– 40th Street
– 52nd Street  Continue Reading

SEPTA has released 1,000 new SEPTA Key cards that include the Travel Wallet feature, which means that customers can load them with cash value and pay as they go on all buses, trolleys and the Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines.

These new SEPTA Key cards are available for purchase at the Sales Office and Fair Kiosks at SEPTA Headquarters, 1234 Market Street. SEPTA is using a soft-launch approach for the Travel Wallet to help familiarize customers with this new way of paying and to address any issues that customers experience before moving to a larger rollout.

Customers will be required to put a minimum of $10 on the card, with a maximum of $250. Those who already have SEPTA Key Cards from previous Weekly and Monthly TransPass purchases can also load money onto the Travel Wallet at the SEPTA Headquarters locations.  Continue Reading