SEPTA announced that it will launch a “Student Fare Compliance Initiative” on Friday, May 22.
According to their announcement, the initiative is “a partnership between SEPTA and the School District of Philadelphia designed to help students travel to and from school safely, responsibly and without cost barriers.”
Eligible students receive a SEPTA Student Key card for transport to and from school – at no cost to the student.
From the announcement:
SEPTA works with the various Southeastern Pennsylvania school districts to help eligible students get transportation. Student fares are available to all school districts within the SEPTA service area.
The school district in which a student resides is responsible for the student’s transportation to and from school, within the guidelines set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Students in grades 7 through 12 who live 1.5 miles or farther from school are generally eligible for free Student Fare Cards through their school.
Erik Johanson, SEPTA’s chief financial officer, told The Philadelphia Inquirer he believes the system is losing about $11 million annually on students not using fare cards.
The pilot program “could eventually escalate to criminal charges for teens who are repeat fare evaders,” The Inquirer wrote. “Students who are caught not swiping their student fare cards — technically a theft of service offense — will begin receiving formal warnings.”
According to the School District of Philadelphia’s announcement, no formal citations will be issued during the pilot. The Student Fare Diversion Program will launch in the fall of 2026. Once the program is in effect, a student’s third warning could mean a citation and court referral.
From the announcement:
The program aims to curb instances of students receiving official summary citations for “theft of service” by deferring the most serious consequences for using the student fare card improperly, and providing an opportunity for families, educators, and communities to intervene with a student to seek solutions together.
SEPTA’s revenue from student card swipes has declined from $36.4 million in fiscal 2022 to a projected $23 million in 2026, according to The Inquirer.
More details about the intiative below:
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