From the desk of Lance Haver, Director of Civic Engagement for Philadelphia City Council.
SEPTA is proposing fare increases for all of its divisions in its Proposed FY2018 Operating Budget. There will be two public hearings at SEPTA headquarters in Philadelphia on the proposed increases, both on Monday, April 24,2017:
Board Room
1234 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
11:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m.
Here is a partial list of its fare proposals:
- The largest proposed fare increase is for disabled riders, whose fares are projected to rise by 25%.
- Cash and token fares on the City Transit Division are projected to rise by 11%.
- Penalties for buying a regional rail ticket on the train are also projected to rise by double digits.
- SEPTA is seeking a 5 to 6% increases on its other fares, with the exception of the transfer which is projected to stay at $ 1.00.
There is no proposal to create financial incentives for token riders to switch to the new “Key” system. And while there is no proposed date or standard for when, SEPTA does project ending token sales in the future.
There is no projected date in SEPTA’s Operating Budget Proposal for the launch of mobile apps that will let riders know when trains, subways, trolleys or buses are coming. Nor is there an announcement about any new renewable energy projects. The financial plan does project fewer riders next year, but does not include a marketing plan to increase ridership. There is also a description of a “Service Stabilization Fund” but no line items showing how much is in the fund, or how much of it – if any – has been spent in the last 5 years.
If you have concerns about SEPTA, suggestions or questions, please come to the hearings and place them on the record.
Follow Lance on Facebook and sign up to receive his newsletter to stay informed about this and other important issues.
Photo: Used under Creative Commons license.
