SEPTA is continuing to expand the implementation of the SEPTA Key fare system and announced that they are expanding their Regional Rail “Early Adopters” program to include several Zone 3 stations for October passes. Riders who travel from one of the 14 selected Zone 3 stations along the Regional Rail system will be able to assist SEPTA by testing Key Cards during their regular commute. Some stations will have both monthly and weekly passes available in advance of October 1. A complete list of the eligible stations and fares available can be viewed here. Riders who board at one of these 14 pilot stations may purchase their Zone 3 Key Card TrailPass from their local station, one of the five Center City sales outlets, or the SEPTA Key Mobile Fare Kiosk. For more details on SEPTA’s Regional Rail Early Adopters program, please visit SEPTA’s website: http://www.septa.org/key/updates/zone-3-rrd-adopter.html.
Upcoming important dates associated with the implementation of SEPTA Key:
- Mid- to late-September: PATCO plans to release FREEDOM Share Card for riders who transfer to SEPTA. Details about the FREEDOM Share Card.
- September 30: SEPTA transfers will no longer be available on PATCO system
- In advance of October 1: Early Adopters program expands to Zone 3 Regional Rail Stations
- October 1: PA-issued Reduced Transit Fare ID Cards will not be valid for travel. Details here: http://www.septa.org/key/updates/2018-06-reduced-fare-id.html
- December 1 (new date): TransPasses no longer valid for weekday travel on Airport line (more details below)
As SEPTA moves ahead with Key, RideECO has received regular inquiries from our clients. Riders are seeing more fare readers installed at Regional Rail stations. The Key Card can be used to board all transit (which includes bus, subway, el, trolley, and the Norristown High-Speed Line). Note that if you have staff that uses SEPTA Key Cards, they may redeem RideECO vouchers in person at several more locations than before. A link to the sales locations and operating times is available here. RideECO vouchers can be redeemed for loads to the SEPTA Key Travel Wallet as well as for monthly and weekly TransPasses on the Key Card.
The most common question we’ve been receiving is, when will RideECO be able to electronically load Key Cards? RideECO staff has been communicating regularly with SEPTA and they are not yet prepared to test the loading of Key Cards with RideECO benefits. When they are, we expect to mimic the same process that we currently utilize for loading PATCO FREEDOM Cards. Until SEPTA is ready to test this process, please continue to order vouchers for staff. Or, consider changing to RideECO Select for our prepaid commuter benefit card.
The RideECO prepaid card offers the greatest flexibility for your employees and can be redeemed at any SEPTA Key kiosk, online at www.SEPTAKey.org, or in person at Key Sales outlets that accept credit cards. Want to learn more about the RideECO prepaid card? Email RideECO here.
We will share updates on Key with our clients as they become available. And, don’t worry if you are left with a supply of vouchers once SEPTA Key moves toward 100% implementation – RideECO will accept those unused vouchers back as a face-value credit on your company’s account.
With the introduction of SEPTA Key on Regional Rail, riders who commute to one of the terminals (A-F) at Philadelphia International Airport will need to purchase a different fare, effective December 1. Weekly and Monthly TransPasses will no longer be accepted for non-holiday weekday travel on the Airport Line.
Starting in December, Zone 1 Weekly or Monthly TrailPasses will be required to commute between Center City and PHL. The Weekly Zone 1 TrailPass ($ 28.25) will be available for sale starting November 28. The Monthly Zone 1 TrailPass ($ 105.00) will be available for sale starting November 20. This change does not impact riders that commute via the Eastwick station.
Please be aware that if riders currently use a Key Card with a TransPass to commute to PHL, they’ll simply change their purchase to a Zone 1 TrailPass. It is important to note that TransPasses will continue to be valid for ANYWHERE travel on Regional Rail during weekends and major holidays. More details on this fare modification in Tariff¬ Number 154, Supplement Number 40.
The RideECO Commuter Benefit program utilizes the services of Edenred Commuter Benefit Solutions for our ordering, printing and fulfillment of RideECO orders. Edenred moved offices effective July 28, 2018.
Please update Edenred’s contact information and accounts payable records to reflect the new address:
c/o Edenred Commuter Benefit Solutions
265 Winter Street
3rd Floor
Waltham, MA 02451
Customer Support: 800-531-2828
Should you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us.