PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Contactless fare payment is expanding on SEPTA, and PATCO is getting close to launching its own version.
If you had out-of-town visitors and wanted to take them on SEPTA, before now, the only way you could pay their fares all at once was to use your Key card or pay cash. Starting Friday, May 8, you can use contactless methods like credit cards or mobile payment apps to pay for up to five fares at once.
“You tap, accept, tap, accept, tap, accept, up to five times,” said SEPTA Key program manager Carly Havyer.
On PATCO, crews are still installing validators that will allow riders to pay fares with mobile apps and credit cards — no ticket needed.
“If things continue to progress the way they are, we’re hoping by the end of next week to have all of the gates done, and then soon after turn them on,” said PATCO GM John Rink.
For PATCO riders paying cash, Rink said new ticket vending machines will arrive this summer that will give paper money as change instead of dollar coins.
