Brian X. McCrone
For the first time in decades, SEPTA transpasses and trailpasses will lack a controversial element: those "M" and "F" stickers identifying the gender of the person who bought them.
Much attention has been given to the transit agency's fare increase that begins July 1 — which includes the first increase to the system's base fare (from $2 to $2.25) in 12 years.
But along with the across the board hike, SEPTA is also consolidating Regional Rail zones and eliminating those gender-identifying stickers in the agency's most recent preparation for its massive New Payment Technology overhaul. A SEPTA spokeswoman said Thursday that any weekly or monthly passes currently being sold no longer have the stickers.
"As part of the effort to simplify fares and introduce an 'open' fare payment and collection system under the New Payment Technology (NPT) program, extra-fare zone charges will be eliminated on dozens of transit routes, and there will be some consolidation of zones on Regional Rail," SEPTA said in a statement released Thursday. "In addition, gender stickers will be eliminated on all passes for transit and Regional Rail."
That last part may seem like a small tidbit in the grand scheme of an incredibly expensive, multi-year fare technology improvement that is touted to eventually include a "contactless" payment method.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/SEPTA_passes_no_longer_come_with_M_and_F_gender_stickers.html#dZGwFSdoPh0UAX5t.99