PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — SEPTA is making changes to the Broad Street Line’s City Hall Station that will make it harder for fare jumpers to get through.
Sections of the mezzanine at City Hall Station will be closed over the next month as new, nearly full-length fare gates are installed — the same style of gates added at the 69th Street Transportation Center a year and a half ago.
SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch said it was important for SEPTA to position the gates at one of its busiest stations.
“It was important for us to get them at City Hall. It’s certainly a high-ridership location, and it’s one where, unfortunately, we kind of see this phenomenon,” he said. “We really are working hard to try to change the culture around fare evasion.”
A month ago, new gates were installed at the 13th Street stop along the Market-Frankford Line. Fare evasion there fell from about 20% of all riders to less than 10%.
The City Hall work also includes new epoxy and resin flooring on the platforms to prepare for the extra traffic expected next year for Philadelphia’s semiquincentennial events. SEPTA will begin installation at the Broad Street Line station next week. Floor resurfacing is also planned for NRG Station and the 15th Street trolley stop.