PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker is reconsidering her decision to end a program that provides free SEPTA passes to low-income Philadelphians.
Managing Director Adam Thiel began his budget testimony before City Council Wednesday by announcing that the mayor is in discussions with SEPTA to extend the Zero Fare pilot program, which has provided SEPTA Key cards to 24,000 low income residents.
That’s much to the delight of Councilman Nic O’Rourke, a minister, who denounced the mayor’s earlier plan to discontinue the program.
“Glory to God and power to the people. Director Thiel, you come bearing gifts in April,” said O’Rourke. “It is really a testament to and what I’m grateful for is that the people themselves are getting what they need.”
The future of Zero Fare, though, is not yet cemented. A statement from the mayor indicates she’s not planning on appropriating any new money but wants SEPTA to handle the program’s $12 million cost out of the subsidy the city has already provided, which was about $15 million more than what the city is required to provide.
SEPTA GM Scott Sauer said discussions are continuing, but did not commit to the arrangement.
“We’re supporters of the program. We think it’s been a good thing for the city, we think it’s a good thing for the customers who use it so of course we’re going to listen and, look, we want to find a way to make this program succeed,” said Sauer. “I’m just eager to hear what the ideas are before we make a judgement on whether it’s something we can do or not.”
Parker said she’ll also restore full funding for the Key Advantage program, which provides free passes to city workers. She previously proposed cutting that roughly in half from $9 million to $5 million.