PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Low-income Philadelphians have taken more than 4 million free trips on SEPTA in the first year of the city’s two-year Zero Fare pilot program. City officials are reporting their findings.
Last year, Philadelphia sent Zero Fare SEPTA fare cards to more than 24,000 residents chosen at random based on income and age. This was an unsolicited benefit. Residents couldn’t apply even if they wanted to. So, perhaps not surprisingly, ⅓ of recipients have never once used the card.
However, for the roughly 15,000 who have, they’ve racked up nearly 3 million bus rides and more than 1 million subway rides, not to mention trips by trolley and Regional Rail.
“I definitely consider year one a success,” said Ruby Glenn, operations manager for the $52 million program.
She says she hopes to extend the benefit to 20,000 more people in the second year of the pilot — and to improve use rates through ongoing outreach efforts.
“We deal with a vulnerable population, so we’re constantly trying to track where people are living, where they’re receiving mail.”
For Reginald Floyd, who commutes daily from Fox Chase to University of Pennsylvania and back, the card has been a game changer. For years, mindful of his budget, he took a bus. It took longer and cost half as much as the regional rail.
Then last year, without even asking for it, he received a Zero Fare SEPTA pass. “I don’t know how I was selected. I just know someone looked out for me for a change, and it’s helped me save money and put money in other places.”
Now he can afford regional rail, so he saves money and time.
“I thank the city of Philadelphia for making me part of this program. They did something phenomenal for me.”