SEPTA to end ticket sales at Elkins Park, Hatboro & Ft Washington Regional Rail Offices, proposes fare increases to address $240M deficit

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September 11th, 2024 | By Ryan Genova

SEPTA announced today that it will end ticket sales at a number of Regional Rail Sales Offices effective Friday, September 20.

“Most stations will remain open during normal operating hours for registered SEPTA Key cardholders, as well as Senior, Reduced Fare, and CCT cardholders, to access seating, restrooms, and other amenities, the agency said. “A wide variety of purchase options available for customers, including SEPTA Key cards and on-board payments, has significantly reduced the number of in-person sales at these locations.”

The complete list of offices ending sales on September 20 is below:

  • Elkins Park
  • Fort Washington
  • Hatboro
  • Langhorne
  • Lansdowne
  • Manayunk
  • Queen Lane
  • Secane
  • Swarthmore
  • Wyndmoor

In related news, SEPTA announced last week that it proposed fare adjustments, including the elimination of a number of discounts, due to a $240 million annual budget deficit with the exhaustion of federal COVID relief funds.

While the state budget includes a small additional distribution to SEPTA, it is less than one-fourth of what the agency originally requested, officials said.

“The SEPTA Board has worked tirelessly to advocate for transit funding,” said SEPTA Board Chair Kenneth E. Lawrence, Jr. “We are optimistic about an agreement on funding in Harrisburg; however, we need to act now to ensure that SEPTA is best positioned to provide reliable service to the city and region.”

This proposal would bring the Travel Wallet fare on buses, subways, and trolleys to $2.50, which is the same as the cash fare. Free transfers on Transit would remain, and SEPTA would eliminate restrictions on direction of travel for transfers – introducing new flexibility that would allow for more roundtrips on a single fare.

The proposal would also increase most single-trip fares on Regional Rail and align Travel Wallet and Quick Trip pricing. All daily, weekly, and monthly passes would remain the same price. In addition, three Zone 2 stations would become Zone 1 stations. Customers with weekly or monthly TransPass+ would have access to Regional Rail services at Overbrook, Wissahickon, and Tulpehocken stations at no additional cost – bringing the total number of Zone 1 stations to 18. 

SEPTA’s last fare increase was in 2017. Planned fare increases in 2020 were deferred due to the pandemic. The proposed fare adjustments would generate an additional $14.4 million in annual revenue, officials said.

The transit agency will hold public hearings regarding the proposed fare adjustments on October 16. Members of the public may attend the hearings in-person at SEPTA Headquarters or remotely via WebEx.

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Photo: ISeptaPhilly.org