Councilmember Rue Landau held a hearing today before the Committee on Transportation and Utility Services examining the status of transit mobility and access for Philadelphia’s students. Alongside Transit Forward Philly, a coalition of transit advocates from across Philadelphia, the hearing explored the expansion of student transit benefits and the possibility of universal student fare cards for all young people in Philadelphia.
“We’re trying to set our children up for the future, and a universal SEPTA fare card will make that possible,” said Councilmember Rue Landau, “Students are filling their lives with so much more than just their education: jobs, sports, extracurriculars, hobbies, clubs. When our transit becomes more affordable and accessible, we’re supporting students, their families, their teachers, and everyone in our city.”
Philadelphia students can only access the pass when school is actively in session, between the hours of 5:30am-8:00pm and with distance restrictions. Student fare cards do not work on weekends or over the summer. They are only given to students living more than 1.5 miles from their school, excluding more than 30,000 Philly students.
These restrictions create barriers for students and families – especially working families with two working parents, single-parent families, and families facing affordability issues already.
“At a time when school districts across the country are struggling with chronic absenteeism and barriers to student attendance, it is deeply troubling to create a system that punishes students simply for trying to get to school,” said Stephen Bronskill, Coalition Manager for Transit Forward Philly. “Transportation is not a luxury for many young people, it is a necessity to reach school, part-time jobs, and activities.”
“Developing a habit of using transit as a youth translates to adults who become transit riders for life,” said 5th Square’s Will Tung, “We need to instill these habits into the SEPTA’s future customer base and expanding student passes would be a wise investment in our region’s future.”
Transit advocates called for an expansion of the current SEPTA student fare program earlier this year at a press conference held by Councilmember Landau. Following the press conference, students met with Councilmember Landau’s staff to express their frustrations from operating within the limits of the current student fare system.
Students say that the limitations of the current system create real barriers to participating in extracurriculars, community service, summer programs, and part-time jobs.
RJ Campbell, a student athlete at Boys Latin, shared that the current student fare card limits his working opportunities around the city, stating, “With most of these internships, I end up finishing after 8 o’clock. That either leaves me to use my money to get Ubers, or inconveniences my family to have to leave from work to come and get me, which is not fair to me, and it’s not fair to them.”
“Transportation shouldn’t be a barrier to getting to school or participating in our communities,” said a student at Multicultural Academy, Aiden Frazier, “I do after-school track. When practice gets out late, my mom has to come pick me up or pay for an Uber if she can’t. That’s money that families shouldn’t have to spend just because a student wants to participate in an after-school activity.”
“Providing students safe, reliable, and affordable access to transit helps them get to school, to afterschool activities and jobs, and to the many cultural and educational opportunities our city offers,” said Dr. Tony Watlington, Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia. “Expanding the Student Fare Card to include more grades, weekends, and summer months would give our young people greater independence and opportunity.”
