PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — SEPTA is rolling out new three-day passes for transit riders starting Tuesday.
There are two separate pass programs.
"If you're someone who uses just the buses, trolleys and subways and you want to give the 72-hour pass a try, you would select the three-day Convenience Pass, and that's just $18. So that takes care of you for 72 hours of travel," explained SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch.
The Convenience Pass also includes the Norristown High Speed Line. After the customer's first use, the pass is valid for up to 24 rides over 72 hours.
"The three-day Independence Pass for Regional Rail," he continued, "that takes three one-day passes, puts them together, gives customers a little bit of a discount.
"And that gives you flexibility. You can actually use that pass any three days of your choosing."
The Independence Pass costs $36. Once one day pass is activated, it is valid until 2 a.m. the following day. On each day, a rider can use the pass for up to 10 combined trips on the Regional Rail.
Both passes are loaded onto the SEPTA Key card.
Busch said SEPTA recognizes it needs to give riders more options as they slowly return to work during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, or as they return to riding public transit for other purposes.
"What we're looking to do with these new three-day passes is add convenience and savings," he said. "There are discounts with these passes, and this would be for people who are commuting to and from work, but then also visitors and other riders.
"Maybe they need something a little less than a weekly or a monthly pass, but they need to travel a little more than just trip-by-trip."
