PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Transit advocates and Philly school students are pushing to remove the limits from students’ SEPTA passes.
One Bright Ray Community High School senior R.J. Campbell, said sometimes it can be difficult to get around.
“Internships, I have one at Temple. And at Temple, I may not finish until 8:30 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. And at that point, my student fare card doesn’t work,” he shared.
His card doesn’t work because student SEPTA cards are only valid between 5:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., for students going to and from school.
Advocates, including Stephen Bronskill of Transit Forward Philadelphia, want the cards to be active around the clock.
“Young people in Philly deserve to access the incredible things in this community. They shouldn’t be cut off at a certain hour or a certain day of the week or a certain time of the year,” Bronskill said.
Superintendent Tony Watlington says making student cards active full-time would cost $79 million for district students and $139 million if you include charters.
That’s money, he says, the district doesn’t have.
City Council hearings are planned to explore funding options.
