PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — SEPTA is proposing several changes to the fare structure for next year. SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards says the changes are designed to save commuters time and money and make the system more fair for low-income riders.
"Under the proposal, children ages 5 through 11 would ride on transit and regional rail for just $1," SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards said. "That's a big discount over current fares, where they pay full price on transit and half on regional rail."
In addition, SEPTA is introducing a new three-day, 72-hour pass.
Another change: Riders using SEPTA Key, their smart fare card, will be able to make one free transfer per ride. Cash riders would continue to pay the transfer fee.
Daniel Trubman of 5th Square, an organization in Philadelphia working for better transportation, says this incentive to transfer between would not just be good for riders.
"Getting people to go from long meandering buses to transfer benefits SEPTA, too, operationally. It also allows SEPTA to design a better, more efficient system," Trubman said.
