“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Happy Halloween! There’s nothing scarier than losing access to democracy! Plan to vote on November 3. Find more information here.
Philly Voice: SEPTA affordability programs would be permanent under proposed Philly law – A proposal introduced by Philadelphia City Council could increase access to transit for Philadelphians. Councilmember O’Rourke introduced legislation to set aside 0.5% of the city’s General Fund for a transit access program in April of last year. The fund would support Zero Fare, Key Advantage, and Key Partner programs. These programs offer critical transit access to transit to low-income residents, families, and businesses across the city.
Northeast Times: SEPTA Ridership Hits Highest Level Since February 2020 as Bus Trips Climb 14% – In September, SEPTA averaged more than 822,000 riders across all modes per day. This is the highest average daily ridership SEPTA has seen since February 2020. Bus ridership has risen 14% from 2025. SEPTA is giving credit to the New Bus Network, and phase 1 of the plan began in August. Regional Rail is the only mode to decline, with average weekday ridership down 4% from last year. SEPTA notes capacity and frequency issues as the leading causes for the decrease in Regional Rail ridership.
6ABC: SEPTA buys Canadian train cars to boost fleet – Two dozen Canadian EXO Transit rail cars are being serviced by SEPTA mechanics, with plans to phase them into service next year. The cars will help SEPTA meet daily service needs and should increase ridership. The new cars will seat an additional 60 to 70 riders, offer more handrails for standing passengers, and increase capacity for Regional Rail service.
Other Stories
NBC Philadelphia: Philadelphia Indego bike stations get high-tech upgrade with smart kiosks
WHYY: Pa. announces funding for 515 new electric vehicle chargers
Trains.com: Amtrak schedules event for public comment on restructuring
WHYY: NJ Transit is expanding a project to present art exhibitions at bus and train stations
Philadelphia Today: AIM Academy Mountain Biking Program in Conshohocken Turns 10
Philly Voice: Filmmakers who set out to produce a comedy on the PPA instead confront tragedies of a car-obsessed culture
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Are you ready to vote on November 3? Find voting and election information here.
City of Philadelphia: Zero Fare Pilot Program fuels opportunity for Philadelphians – The Zero Fare pilot program provides free SEPTA key cards to over 37,000 low-income residents. The program launched in August of 2023, and the majority of participants were chosen by a lottery system. The unique automatic enrollment model has been a success, as Zero Fare has had a higher participation rate than any other transit benefit program for low-income riders. During the most recent quarter, the program has seen 2.4 million trips, bringing the total number of trips since the start of the program to 19.6 million.
Mass Transit Mag: Union workers approve new contract with Pittsburgh Regional Transit – Over 2,000 unionized bus operators, maintenance, and office staff have signed a four-year contract. The contract with Pittsburgh Regional Transit includes 15% wage increases. Wages will increase by 4% in the first two years and 3.5% in the next two. The deal is expected to be approved by the PRT board on Friday October 22 and replaces a previous four-year contract that expired in June.
WHYY: Philly teens advocate for universal free student SEPTA passes – Students are advocating for an expansion of free student SEPTA passes, which currently only work between 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Students are only eligible for the pass if they live more than 1.5 miles from their school, and cards do not work on weekends, or during summers or school holidays. But advocates argue that students deserve access to educational programs outside of school, job opportunities, and other civically engaging events without having to worry about the financial burden travelling could bring. Arguments against the program include behavioral concerns, cost to the districts, and students skipping taps, resulting in fare evasion.
Other Stories
Spotlight PA: Pa. election 2026: A complete guide to who is on the ballot, when to vote, where to vote, casting mail ballots, and more
CBS Philadelphia: Bike lanes around Philadelphia City Hall could be here to stay after City Council vote
SEPTA: SEPTA Crews to Perform Nightly Cleaning During Slippery Rail Season
PennWatch: PennDOT Launches New Social Media Campaign for Teen Drivers During Teen Driver Safety Week
Mass Transit Mag: Transit Tech Lab unveils proof-of-concept results from 2026 cohort focused on infrastructure modernization
6ABC: New Pennsylvania license plates continue to cause toll trouble for some E-ZPass users
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Week Without Driving ended this week but keep fighting for freedom of transportation for all! Sign up with Transit For All PA! for more information.
Metro Philadelphia: SEPTA universal student fare cards could carry hefty cost for Philadelphia – Current SEPTA Student Fare cards are only available for students in grades 7 through 12 who live at least a mile and a half away from their school. The cards can only be used between 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the school year, meaning cards are not valid on weekends, holidays, or over the summer. Expanding the cards to give students unrestricted transit access could cost up to $64 million a year. Philadelphia school board officials testified that they would support the expansion initiative if there was a dedicated funding source. Fare cost can be a significant barrier to accessing opportunities for students and families.
CBS Philadelphia: Here’s when the 2nd Pennsylvanian Amtrak route will start – The second daily round trip from Pittsburgh to New York City will be added next month, with stops including Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and a dozen others. Amtrak ridership has grown 20% since 2019, and the demand for more service was a driving factor in this route, which begins on November 18.
The Inquirer: Accelerate to the modern SEPTA the region deserves – The infrastructure in Philadelphia, specifically in Center City, offers millions of people commuting options to the largest employment hub in the region. However, relying on infrastructure from a century ago is limiting where SEPTA can grow. SEPTA’s recently- released Accelerate plan offers better connectivity with Regional Rail, more trips offered on subways and buses, but the piece missing from this improvement plan is dedicated and secure funding.
Other Stories
Philadelphia Today: Borski Park Reconnects Bridesburg With the Delaware River
WHYY: What should Philly’s streeteries look like? The city wants your input
Philly Voice: These Philly walking groups help people boost their fitness and mental health, and they welcome others to join
The Inquirer: Roxborough’s Shawmont Station, a 200-year-old railroad depot, is slated to become a train museum
CBS Pittsburgh: Southwest adding 3 nonstop destinations from Pittsburgh International Airport next summer
Billy Penn: ‘One-shot Mar’ crowned Philadelphia’s best parallel parker
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Celebrate Cobbs Creek Trails Day this Sunday, 4/26 from 10am to 2pm, at the park at Thomas Ave & Cobbs Creek Parkway north of Whitby Ave. More information and activities can be found here.
Are you interested in improving the health and built environment of Philadelphia? The Nutrition and Physical Activity Team in the Health Department of Philadelphia is hiring a Built Environment Coordinator, and a Community Health Infrastructure Coordinator. Click the links in the titles to learn more about these roles and their impact!
BillyPenn: Advocates push for around-the-clock access to public transit for kids in Philadelphia – Councilmember Rue Landau and Transit Forward Philly held a press conference for expanding the student fare program. The SEPTA card provided for students, the student fare program, is currently limited by distance, time of day, and days of the week. Limiting factors can include going to summer jobs, living too close to their school, and even involvement in sports. Advocates pointed out that universal access benefits kids, giving them opportunities in education, professional development, summer opportunities, and more.
PhillyVoice: PA Turnpike is testing a system that will warn drivers of slow traffic – Pennsylvania Turnpike drivers will be alerted of upcoming traffic jams, due to a pilot program that began this week. Drivers can expect two alerts, the first being an electronic sign about 2 miles away, and another screen alert placed about half a mile out from the slowdown. The pilot program is initially along the Northeast Extension of I-476, with review planned afterwards, to see if outward expansion would be beneficial.
The Inquirer (via MSN): Why city council is threatening to block Mayor Cherelle Parker’s ‘Uber tax’ if it doesn’t get its way on school closures – Philadelphia’s Board of Education has pushed the vote to cancel schools to April 30th, instead of this week as it was originally scheduled. During the past week, Philadelphia City Council members have pushed to delay the vote, as the facilities plans as written contain some concerning flaws. Mayor Parker introduced legislation that would add a $1-per-ride tax on services like Uber and Lyft to try and patch the Philadelphia School District’s budget. This tax would generate an estimated $50 million per year, but that would not offset the closures of several schools. Uber has also begun a public campaign to make clear that it will be passing along this tax directly to the rider.
Other Stories
City & State Pennsylvania: Ask the Experts: Local transit leaders mind the gaps
Pittsburghers For Public Transit: Transit is the Ticket to a Winning NFL Draft
The Inquirer: I-95 South exit ramp to Packer Avenue will be closed into May, disrupting traffic to sports complex
KYW News Radio: No tickets necessary: PATCO riders will soon be able to pay with credit cards or smart phones
Railway Age: Transit Briefs: San Diego MTS/NICTD, MDOT MTA, NJ Transit, Amtrak
WHYY: Reported crime on SEPTA continues to drop in 2026 after decade lows last year
