SEPTA fare increase begins on September 1; monthly pass users will notice higher costs earlier.

SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) is set to implement an average fare increase of 21.5% beginning September 1, 2023. This adjustment comes as part of the agency’s “doomsday budget,” which is necessitated by an ongoing funding crisis. The increase will affect monthly pass users, who will start to notice the revised pricing ahead of the official implementation date.

The fare hike coincides with significant service reductions that will take effect on August 24, in response to a lack of new state funding from Harrisburg. As part of the fare and service adjustments, the agency aims to streamline the processing of advance purchases and implement the new pricing structure efficiently for commuters.

Starting August 20, monthly passes typically go on sale, with many individuals preferring to acquire them ahead of the new month for uninterrupted access to transit services. However, for customers purchasing passes after this date, the fare increase will become effective once they reload their monthly passes, whether online, at fare kiosks, or participating retail locations. For those using the Key Commuter program, which allows access to transit benefits through employers, the increased fare will be reflected in their payroll deductions starting this week, although they will benefit from pretax payments.

Autoload customers, approximately 2,400 SEPTA riders, can expect to see the fare increase reflected in their bank accounts beginning August 26. In terms of the specific fare changes, the standard monthly Transpass, which provides access to buses, trolleys, subways, and light-rail services (excluding Regional Rail), will see an increase from to 6. For Regional Rail passengers commuting from Zone 3, the monthly TrailPass will rise from 4 to 7.50.

The Anywhere Pass, which is valid for unrestricted travel across all transit services, will change from 4 to 5. Weekly passes will be available for purchase on the preceding Wednesday of the travel week. Additionally, participants in the Key Advantage program, where some employers subsidize costs to provide discounted Anywhere passes, will not experience a fare increase until their next six-month renewal period. Similarly, students enrolled in the UPass program, allowing them to access discounted fares through their educational institutions, will also be exempt from the immediate fare changes.

In light of these adjustments, SEPTA continues to navigate financial challenges while attempting to sustain and improve essential transportation services for the greater Philadelphia area. The agency underscores the necessity for adequate funding solutions to deliver reliable transit options moving forward.

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