“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
