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SEPTA's smart fare card gets wide release

    by Jason Laughlin, STAFF WRITER | Columnist
    Published 

SEPTA's smart fare card is being released more widely this week.

The SEPTA Key card, designed to replace all SEPTA's fare mechanisms, including tokens, is now in the process of being rolled out at all subway stations and major bus loops. The gradual expansion is set to continue through early March.

This week's citywide release comes after an initial rollout last Thursday at the 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby. That station was chosen because it's a hub for 36,000 riders daily using the El, suburban trolleys, the high speed line, and numerous bus routes.

At 69th Street, riders who don't have cards can get one by paying for a monthly or weekly transpass, or with a minimum payment of $10, which will go toward rides. Kiosks will accept cash, cards, or tokens.

As the cards become available through kiosks at other stations, riders will have to initially pay for a monthly or weekly pass to get the card. Once purchased, though, the card offers flexibility. Users can maintain a "travel wallet" on it, allowing them to pay per ride, will be able to reload the card online or through a smart phone, and can register the card to protect its balance if it is lost.

Here's the schedule for when you can get the card at each station:

  1. Feb. 13: Fern Rock, Walnut Locust, Olney, Olney Transportation Center

  2. Feb. 14: AT&T, Lombard-South

  3. Feb. 15: Cecil B. Moore, Spring Garden (BSL), Fairmount

  4. Feb. 16: 30th Street, 34th Street, 40th Street, 46th Street

  5. Feb. 17: 52nd Street, 56th Street, 60th Street, 63rd Street, Millbourne

  6. Feb. 20: Erie, Hunting Park, Wyoming, Logan, Chinatown, Race-Vine, City Hall

  7. Feb. 21: 2nd Street, 11th Street, 13th Street, Spring Garden (MFL), 1234 Market St. lobby

  8. Feb. 22: Frankford Transportation Center

  9. Feb. 23: Tioga, Huntingdon, Allegheny (MFL), Church, Erie-Torresdale

  10. Feb. 24: Oregon, Snyder, Ellsworth-Federal, Tasker-Morris, Girard (BSL)

  11. Feb. 27: Berks, Somerset, York-Dauphin, Arrot Transportation Center, Girard (MFL), North Philadelphia, Allegheny (BSL), Susquehanna-Dauphin

  12. Feb. 29: 15th Street Express, 15th Street Plaza, 16th Street (east/westbound), Dilworth Park
    March 1: 5th Street, 8th Street (MFL), 8th Street (Ridge Spur)

  13. March 2: Torresdale and Cottman, Wissahickon Transportation Center, Chester Transportation Center, Drexel Hill Junction, 23rd and Venango

  14. March 3: Cheltenham and Ogontz, Darby Transportation Center, 63rd and Malvern, 33rd and Dauphin, Norristown Transportation Center

SEPTA Key has been used for five million trips since a pilot introduction began in June 2016. SEPTA intends to phase out other fare modes completely, including tokens, but the time line for that is dependent on how quickly the Key card is adopted, officials said.