The Hub 8/25/2023: Clean Air Council’s Weekly Round-up of Transportation News
“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.
Feet First Philly launched the 4th round of their Public Space Enhancement Mini-grant Program. Applications open now through October 9th.
WHYY: City of Philadelphia employees are the latest to join free SEPTA Key program – Beginning September 1st, the city of Philadelphia will provide a free SEPTA Key card to eligible employees. The city is the latest to join SEPTA’s Key Advantage program which started with large employers, and has since opened up to smaller businesses as well. The city has been using this as an incentive to attract people to apply for city jobs, and this will also help to increase ridership on SEPTA.
BillyPenn: SEPTA is piloting contactless payments like Apple Pay and credit card taps – Late last month, SEPTA launched its contactless payment pilot which currently has 56 participants and is still accepting applications for pilot participants. This contactless payment method allows riders to directly pay on SEPTA buses, trolleys, and subways by using Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or a physical Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card. The contactless method costs the same as using a SEPTA Key Travel Wallet, and at the close of the pilot anyone will be able to use this new payment method. A similar contactless pilot program will be launched on Regional Rail early next year.
WHYY: SEPTA unveils accessibility upgrades at Susquehanna-Dauphin Station – The Susquehanna-Dauphin station in North Philadelphia is now accessible to everyone after an approximately $24 million overhaul. SEPTA installed a pair of elevators, new stairwells, new energy-efficient LED lighting and even new static and digital signage. This upgrade makes 13 of the 25 Broad Street Line stations fully ADA accessible, and SEPTA aims to have 99% of the transit system fully accessible by 2033.
Other Stories
The Inquirer: SEPTA wants more state sales-tax revenue to avoid ‘draconian’ service cuts next spring
WIRED: The Case for Making Public Transit Free Everywhere
The Inquirer: Runaway SEPTA trolley’s brakes were disabled before crash, NTSB says
MASS TRANSIT: PA: University Line construction to alter several Pittsburgh bus routes
PhillyVoice: SEPTA offers Eagles fans free rides home on the Broad Street Line this season
