History of SEPTA in Timeline
SEPTA, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, provides public transportation services to nearly four million people in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It operates various modes of transportation, including bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolleybus. Beyond providing transit, SEPTA also focuses on infrastructure maintenance, replacement, and expansion projects to improve its services and facilities.
8 hours ago : SEPTA Achieves $91.4 Million Savings Through Efficiency and Accountability Program Initiatives
SEPTA's Efficiency & Accountability Program identified $91.4 million in annual recurring revenue and cost savings. This initiative addresses a looming budget shortfall through various cost-cutting measures and revenue generation strategies, improving overall financial health.
1902: Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company Formed
In 1902, the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company (PRTC) was formed.
1913: Roosevelt Boulevard Subway Proposal
In 1913, the original proposal for the Roosevelt Boulevard Subway was created, however construction has remained elusive.
1940: Philadelphia Transportation Company (PTC) created
In 1940, the Philadelphia Transportation Company (PTC) was created with the merger of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company (formed in 1902), and a group of smaller, then-independent transit companies operating within the city and its environs.
August 17, 1963: SEPTA Created
On August 17, 1963, SEPTA was created by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to coordinate government funding to various transit and railroad companies in southeastern Pennsylvania.
February 18, 1964: SEPTA Commences Operations
SEPTA commenced operations on February 18, 1964.
November 1, 1965: SEPTA Absorbs Predecessor Agencies
On November 1, 1965, SEPTA absorbed two predecessor agencies.
1966: Reading Company and Pennsylvania Railroad lines operated under contract to SEPTA
By 1966, the Reading Company and Pennsylvania Railroad commuter railroad lines were operated under contract to SEPTA.
February 1, 1968: Pennsylvania Railroad Merges
On February 1, 1968, the Pennsylvania Railroad merged with the New York Central railroad to become Penn Central.
September 30, 1968: SEPTA Acquires Philadelphia Transportation Company
On September 30, 1968, SEPTA acquired the Philadelphia Transportation Company (PTC), which operated a citywide system of bus, trolley, and trackless trolley routes, the Market–Frankford Line, the Broad Street Line, and the Delaware River Bridge Line, which became SEPTA's City Transit Division.
1968: SEPTA Board Founding
At its founding in 1968, the SEPTA board had 11 members.
January 30, 1970: SEPTA Acquires Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company
On January 30, 1970, SEPTA acquired the Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company, also known as the Red Arrow Lines, which included the Philadelphia and Western Railroad (P&W) route now called the Norristown High Speed Line, the Media–Sharon Hill Line (Routes 101 and 102), and several suburban bus routes in Delaware County.
June 21, 1970: Penn Central Files for Bankruptcy
On June 21, 1970, Penn Central filed for bankruptcy.
1974: Airport Line Construction Begins
Between 1974 and 1984, the City of Philadelphia constructed the new airport line.
March 1, 1976: SEPTA Acquires Schuylkill Valley Lines
On March 1, 1976, SEPTA acquired the transit operations of Schuylkill Valley Lines, known today as the Frontier Division.
1976: Conrail Takes Over Bankrupt Railroad Assets
In 1976, Conrail took over the assets of Penn Central and several other bankrupt railroads, including the Reading Company, due to bankruptcy.
1976: Silverliner IV Completion
The Silverliner IV order was completed in 1976.
1977: SEPTA and Reeder's Inc. Join Forces
In 1977, SEPTA and Reeder's Inc. joined forces to operate three bus routes out of West Chester: Route 120, Route 121, and Route 122.
1978: AM General Trolleybuses Built
From 1978 to 1979, AM General vehicles were built for SEPTA and used as trackless trolleys on routes 29, 59, 66, 75, and 79.
1980: Prototype K-car delivered and tested
In 1980, a prototype of the Kawasaki-built "K-car" was delivered and tested before the full production of the vehicles for the SEPTA Subway–Surface trolley lines began.
1981: Kawasaki builds K-cars
In 1981, Kawasaki began building the 112 vehicles, known as "K-cars", used on the SEPTA Subway–Surface trolley lines (Routes 10, 11, 13, 34, and 36).
1981: Current Transit Police Department Established
SEPTA established its current Transit Police Department in 1981.
July 1982: Route 122 Replaced by Route 91
In July 1982, SEPTA's Route 122 service was replaced by Route 91, which was later eliminated due to low ridership.
October 1982: Route 121 Replaced by Route 92
In October 1982, SEPTA's Route 121 was replaced by Route 92, which continues to operate today.
1982: SEPTA Orders Neoplan Buses
In 1982, SEPTA ordered buses from Neoplan USA, in a purchase that was both the largest for Neoplan at the time and SEPTA's largest to date. The Neoplan AK's, SEPTA's first Neoplan order, had longitudinal seating and a wheelchair ramp on the back door.
1982: Kawasaki B-IV Cars Built
The Broad Street Line uses cars built by Kawasaki between 1982 and 1984, known as B-IV, which are stainless steel and include some cars with operating cabs at both ends, as well as some with only a single cab.
January 1, 1983: SEPTA Takes Over Commuter Rail Operations
On January 1, 1983, SEPTA took over commuter services from Conrail and acquired track, rolling stock, and other assets to form the Railroad Division.
November 1983: Bucks County Routes Turned Over
In November 1983, SEPTA turned over the Bucks County routes (formerly Trenton-Philadelphia Coach Line Routes, a subsidiary of SEPTA) to Frontier Division.
1983: SEPTA Orders Neoplan Buses
In 1983, SEPTA, along with other transit operators in Pennsylvania, ordered 1,000 Neoplan buses of various lengths. SEPTA ultimately received 450 buses from this order, with 425 40-foot buses and 25 35-foot buses.
1984: Airport Line Construction Ends
Between 1974 and 1984, the City of Philadelphia constructed the new airport line.
1984: Volvo Articulated Buses
In 1984, SEPTA had Volvo 10BM 60-foot articulated buses. In 1998, those busses were replaced by Neoplan articulated busses.
1984: Center City Commuter Connection Tunnel Opening
In 1984, with the construction and opening of the Center City Commuter Connection Tunnel, SEPTA paired former Pennsylvania Railroad lines with former Reading lines, creating seven route designations numbered R1 through R8 (with R4 not used).
1984: Kawasaki B-IV Cars Built
The Broad Street Line uses cars built by Kawasaki between 1982 and 1984, known as B-IV, which are stainless steel and include some cars with operating cabs at both ends, as well as some with only a single cab.
1986: SEPTA Purchases Additional Neoplans
In 1986, SEPTA purchased additional Neoplans, the first two groups of which came without rear wheelchair lifts.
1987: SEPTA Purchases Additional Neoplans
In late 1987, SEPTA purchased additional Neoplans with rear wheelchair lifts.
1989: SEPTA Purchases Additional Neoplans
In 1989, SEPTA purchased additional Neoplans with rear wheelchair lifts.
1991: SEPTA Board Expansion
In 1991, the state legislature added four additional members to the SEPTA board, increasing its influence.
1992: Krapf Purchases Reeder's Operation
In 1992, Krapf purchased the Reeder's operation and designated the remaining (West Chester to Coatesville) bus route as Krapf Transit "Route A".
1993: Delivery of N-5 cars by ABB
In 1993, ABB delivered the 26 N-5 cars for the Norristown High Speed Line after production difficulties and a change of assembly locations; these cars are the first in North America to have Alternating Current (AC) traction motors.
1994: Evaluation of Sample Buses
In 1994, SEPTA started the evaluation of sample buses from New Flyer.
1996: North American Bus Industries Reorganization
In 1996, American Ikarus reorganized and became North American Bus Industries, which was the company replacing the earlier fleet of AK and BD Neoplans through late 1997.
1997: M-4 Cars Built
The Market–Frankford Line uses a class of cars known as M-4 built from 1997 to 1999 by Adtranz.
1997: AK and BD Neoplans Replaced
Through late 1997, the earlier fleet of AK and BD Neoplans (8285–8581) were replaced by 400 buses built by American Ikarus and North American Bus Industries. The older GMC RTS 35- and 40-foot buses were also replaced in this order.
1998: SEPTA Orders Articulated Buses from Neoplan
In 1998, SEPTA ordered 155 articulated buses from Neoplan to replace the 1984 Volvo 10BM 60-foot articulated buses.
1998: Purchase of Transmark-29 Buses
In 1998, the SEPTA purchase included 89 29-foot Transmark-29 buses from National-Eldorado (4501–4580, 4581 received later).
1999: Metrotrans Legacy Bankruptcy Filing
SEPTA had decided to buy from Metrotrans Legacy, SEPTA's first choice in small buses, but the company filed for bankruptcy in 1999.
1999: M-4 Cars Built
The Market–Frankford Line uses a class of cars known as M-4 built from 1997 to 1999 by Adtranz.
2000: Arrival of Transmark-29 Buses
The first of the 29-foot Transmark-29 buses from National-Eldorado began to arrive in late 2000.
2001: SEPTA Orders Low-Floor Buses
In 2001, SEPTA ordered 100 low-floor buses (nos. 5401–5500) from New Flyer.
2001: Diesel Buses Delivered
SEPTA delivered 525 2017-2022 NFI XDE40 hybrid buses to replace all the diesel buses that were delivered between 2001 and 2004.
June 2002: Trackless Trolley Routes Converted to Diesel Buses
In June 2002, SEPTA routes 59, 66, and 75, which used trackless trolleys, were converted to diesel buses for an indefinite period.
2003: Retirement of Cutaway Buses
Around 2003, a fleet of buses known as "cutaways" were retired and replaced with slightly larger cutaway buses on a Freightliner truck chassis.
2003: SEPTA Purchases Small Group of Hybrids
In 2003, SEPTA purchased two small groups of hybrids, 5601H–5612H.
2003: More Trolley Routes Converted to Diesel Buses
In 2003, SEPTA routes 29 and 79, which used trackless trolleys, were converted to diesel buses for an indefinite period.
2003: PCC cars rebuilt by Brookville
In 2003, the PCC cars on the Girard Avenue Line were rebuilt by Brookville, renamed PCC II, and updated with air conditioning and a wheelchair lift for the line's reopening.
2003: Trackless Trolley Service Suspended
In 2003, trackless trolley (trolley bus) service was suspended.
2004: SEPTA Purchases Small Group of Hybrids
In 2004, SEPTA purchased two small groups of hybrids, 5831H–5850H.
2004: Diesel Buses Delivered
SEPTA delivered 525 2017-2022 NFI XDE40 hybrid buses to replace all the diesel buses that were delivered between 2001 and 2004.
2005: Geographically-accurate map of SEPTA
In 2005, a geographically accurate map of SEPTA and connecting rail transit services was available. The map included Regional Rail, rapid transit, and selected interurban and suburban trolley lines but did not include SEPTA's subway-surface lines or the Girard streetcar.
2005: New Flyer D40LF Buses Delivered
In 2021, SEPTA placed an order for 220 New Flyer XDE40 buses with an option for 120 additional buses to replace New Flyer D40LF buses delivered in 2005.
February 2006: SEPTA Orders New Low-Floor Trackless Trolleys
In February 2006, SEPTA placed an order for 38 new low-floor trackless trolleys from New Flyer Industries for routes 59, 66, and 75.
October 2006: No Additional Trolleys Ordered
In October 2006, the SEPTA board voted not to order additional trackless trolleys for Routes 29 and 79, making those routes permanently non-electric.
2006: SEPTA Orders New Low-Floor Trackless Trolleys
In early 2006, SEPTA ordered 38 new low-floor trackless trolleys from New Flyer.
June 2007: Pilot Trackless Trolley Arrives for Testing
In June 2007, the pilot trackless trolley arrived for testing.
2007: SEPTA bus Route 306 began service
In 2007, SEPTA bus Route 306 began service, connecting the Great Valley Corporate Center and West Chester with the Brandywine Town Center; service between West Chester and Brandywine Town Center was discontinued in 2010 due to low ridership.
April 14, 2008: Trackless Trolley Service Resumes on Routes 66 and 75
On April 14, 2008, trackless trolley service resumed on SEPTA Routes 66 and 75, initially limited to one or two vehicles on each route.
June 20, 2008: Last AN440 Buses Retired
On June 20, 2008, SEPTA retired the last AN440 buses after receiving its first low-floor fleet.
August 2008: Trackless Trolley Deliveries Completed
The trackless trolleys ordered in February 2006 were delivered between February and August 2008.
2008: Trackless Trolley Service Restored
In 2008, new trackless trolleys entered service, restoring trackless service on routes 59, 66 and 75, replacing SEPTA Neoplan EZs.
2008: New Flyer DE40LF Buses Delivered
In 2021, SEPTA placed an order for 220 New Flyer XDE40 buses with an option for 120 additional buses to replace New Flyer DE40LF buses delivered between 2008-2009.
2008: SEPTA Borrows and Orders Hybrid Buses
Prior to the 2008 purchase, SEPTA borrowed an MTA New York City Transit Orion VII hybrid bus # 6365 to evaluate it in service and SEPTA was the first to purchase New Flyer DE40LFs equipped with rooftop HVAC units.
2008: Buses Equipped with Rooftop HVAC Ordered
SEPTA's revenue from advertisements on the backs of its buses leads the authority to order mainly buses equipped with a rooftop HVAC, especially on 2008–2009 New Flyer DE40LFs.
February 2009: SEPTA bus Route 113 commenced
In February 2009, SEPTA bus Route 113 commenced connecting bus service with DART at the Tri-State Mall, connecting Delaware County and Delaware, and connecting with DART First State's #13 and #61 bus at the Tri-State Mall.
2009: Discrimination complaints related to sex identification markers
Between 2009 and 2013, SEPTA was criticized for its use of sex identification markers on monthly transit passes, as some transgender and gender-queer people had experienced discrimination related to the markers.
2009: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds utilized
In 2009, SEPTA utilized $191 million of funds made available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to make over 30 major improvements to the system.
2009: SEPTA sued over lack of accessibility
In 2009, SEPTA was successfully sued over its lack of accessibility.
2009: New Flyer DE40LF Buses Delivered
In 2021, SEPTA placed an order for 220 New Flyer XDE40 buses with an option for 120 additional buses to replace New Flyer DE40LF buses delivered between 2008-2009.
2009: Buses Equipped with Rooftop HVAC Ordered
SEPTA's revenue from advertisements on the backs of its buses leads the authority to order mainly buses equipped with a rooftop HVAC, especially on 2008–2009 New Flyer DE40LFs.
July 2010: SEPTA Removed R-Numbers From Lines
In July 2010, SEPTA removed the R-numbers from the lines and started referring to the lines by the names of their termini due to changing ridership patterns.
October 29, 2010: Silverliner V Cars Introduced
On October 29, 2010, the first Silverliner V cars were introduced into service, marking the first new electric multiple units purchased for the Regional Rail system since 1976.
2010: LEED station built at Fox Chase terminal
In 2010, SEPTA built the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) station at Fox Chase terminal.
2010: SEPTA Route 306 service discontinued
In 2010, SEPTA discontinued service between West Chester and Brandywine Town Center on bus Route 306 due to low ridership.
July 2012: SEPTA voted best large transit agency
In July 2012, SEPTA was voted the best large transit agency in North America by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
March 19, 2013: All Silverliner V Cars in Service
As of March 19, 2013, all Silverliner V cars were in service and made up almost one-third of the current 400 car Regional Rail fleet, replacing the older fleet.
June 2013: Markers on monthly passes stopped
In June 2013, SEPTA stopped using sex identification markers on SEPTA-issued monthly transit passes.
2013: Act 89 Signed Into Law
In 2013, Act 89 was signed into law which reduced the annual funding SEPTA receives from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
2013: Replacement of Articulated Buses
The 1998 articulated buses were replaced by the 2013–2016 NovaBus LFS-A HEV.
2014: Ridership Decrease
From 2014 to 2019, SEPTA experienced a 13% decrease in ridership, attributed to factors such as increased competition, structural changes in ridership patterns, and moderate gas prices.
2015: Retirement of Articulated Buses
By late 2015, the 1998 SEPTA articulated buses have now been retired.
July 2016: Structural Flaw Discovered in Silverliner V Cars
In July 2016, a structural flaw was discovered in more than 95% of the 120 Silverliner V cars in the SEPTA regional rail fleet during an emergency inspection.
July 25, 2016: Transportation Issues for Democratic National Convention
Due to the structural flaws discovered, it was expected that the loss of system capacity would cause transportation issues for the Democratic National Convention being held in Philadelphia on the week of July 25, 2016.
2016: Pilot Program for Battery Electric Buses Launched
In 2016, SEPTA launched a pilot program to replace diesel buses with battery electric buses on former trackless trolley routes 29 and 79. The agency ordered 25 such buses from Proterra, Inc. and two overhead fast-charging stations.
2016: Replacement of Articulated Buses
The 1998 articulated buses were replaced by the 2013–2016 NovaBus LFS-A HEV.
December 2017: Norristown High Speed Line Extension
As of December 2017, SEPTA had completed an Environmental Impact Statement to extend the Norristown High Speed Line to the King of Prussia area, but the project was later discontinued.
2017: Emergency Welding to Fix Cracking Steel Beams
In 2017, 90 cars of the Market-Frankford Line had emergency welding to fix cracking steel beams.
2017: Electric Buses Expected to Enter Service
In 2017, battery electric busses were expected to enter service, returning electric propulsion to routes 29 and 79 after nearly 15 years of diesel operation.
2017: SEPTA Delivers NFI Hybrid Buses
SEPTA delivered 525 2017–2022 NFI XDE40 hybrid buses to replace all the diesel buses that were delivered between 2001 and 2004.
April 30, 2018: Token Sales Discontinued
On April 30, 2018, SEPTA discontinued the sales of tokens, and the token vending machines were removed from transit stations.
2018: SEPTA Ridership in 2018
As of 2018, SEPTA had the sixth-largest rapid transit system in the U.S. by ridership and the fifth-largest overall transit system, with about 302 million annual unlinked trips. It controlled 290 active stations, over 450 miles of track, 2,350 revenue vehicles, and 196 routes. SEPTA also oversaw shared-ride services in Philadelphia and ADA services across the region, operated by third-party contractors, Amtrak, and NJ Transit.
2019: Ridership Decrease
From 2014 to 2019, SEPTA experienced a 13% decrease in ridership, attributed to factors such as increased competition, structural changes in ridership patterns, and moderate gas prices.
2019: Route 205 Merged into Route 206
In late 2019, Route 205 (Paoli Station to Chesterbrook), formerly operated by Krapf, was merged into SEPTA's Route 206 (Paoli Station to Great Valley).
March 2020: Ridership Decrease Due to COVID-19
In March 2020, SEPTA ridership decreased by 24% due to government-implemented lock-downs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 2020: Trial use of lean benches
In October 2020, SEPTA trialed the use of lean benches instead of traditional seating at some of its stations, which was criticized as hostile architecture.
2020: SEPTA rebuilds PCC cars
In 2020, SEPTA began rebuilding the PCC cars for the Girard Avenue Line again, scheduled to return in 2023 with plastic seating.
2020: Paper Ticket Sales Discontinued
In 2020, SEPTA discontinued the sales of paper tickets on Regional Rail.
2020: Annual Ridership Numbers
In 2020, SEPTA recorded 223.5 million individual rides, with 17.1 million on the suburban network, 26.3 million on the "regional rail" network, and 180.1 million on the "city transit" network.
2020: Permanent Welding to Fix Cracking Steel Beams
In 2020, all the cars of the Market-Frankford Line, including the ones temporarily repaired in 2017, had to have more permanent welding to fix cracking steel beams.
2020: Electric Buses Sidelined
In February 2020, the battery electric buses were sidelined for an undisclosed reason, with multiple agency sources blaming a defect in the buses' plastic chassis that led to a cracking problem.
April 1, 2021: Valid Paper Tickets Accepted on Regional Rail
Until April 1, 2021, valid paper tickets were still accepted on trains after their sales were discontinued in 2020.
April 2, 2021: Paper Tickets No Longer Accepted on Regional Rail
As of April 2, 2021, previously purchased paper tickets were no longer accepted on Regional Rail.
September 2021: NYC Subway accessibility rate
As of September 2021, the New York City Subway has the lowest ADA-compliant accessibility rate for rail stops in the United States at 28%.
September 2021: SEPTA Metro Rebranding Proposed
In September 2021, SEPTA proposed rebranding their rail transit services, including the Market–Frankford Line and Broad Street Line, as the "SEPTA Metro" to simplify navigation, with new maps, signage, and line designations planned.
September 2021: Removal of lean benches
In September 2021, the trials concluded with the removal of the lean benches that were being tested at some stations.
2021: SEPTA Orders New Flyer Buses
In 2021, SEPTA placed an order for 220 New Flyer XDE40 buses with an option for 120 additional buses to replace New Flyer D40LF buses delivered in 2005 and New Flyer DE40LF buses delivered between 2008-2009.
2021: SEPTA Operating Expenses for Fiscal Year 2021
In the fiscal year of 2021, SEPTA had $1,530,984,000 in total operating expenses, with the majority being labor and fringe benefits, followed by material and services costs.
February 2022: SEPTA bus accessibility
As of February 2022, all of SEPTA's buses are fully accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
June 2022: Loss of Funding from Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
As of June 2022, SEPTA no longer receives $180,000,000 annually from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission due to Act 89, signed into law in 2013.
July 2022: Charles Lawson Becomes Acting Chief
Since July 2022, Charles Lawson was the acting chief of the Transit Police. In May 2023, he was appointed chief.
August 2022: Introduction of Electronic Tickets
In August 2022, SEPTA introduced the ability to pay for transit rides using electronic tickets that can be bought through the SEPTA mobile apps for Android and iOS.
December 2022: Electronic Tickets Released to General Public
In December 2022, the electronic ticket feature, which allows passengers to pay for transit rides via the SEPTA mobile apps for Android and iOS, was released to the general public after a limited pilot program.
2022: SEPTA Delivers NFI Hybrid Buses
SEPTA delivered 525 2017–2022 NFI XDE40 hybrid buses to replace all the diesel buses that were delivered between 2001 and 2004.
March 2023: SEPTA Board Members
In March 2023, the members of the SEPTA Board were recorded.
May 2023: Charles Lawson Appointed Transit Police Chief
In May 2023, Charles Lawson was appointed chief of the Transit Police, after serving as acting chief since July 2022.
June 2023: SEPTA Budgeted for Rebranding
In June 2023, SEPTA budgeted $40 million for the rebranding of SEPTA Metro.
July 2023: Pilot Program for Contactless Payments
In July 2023, SEPTA launched a limited pilot program to allow passengers to pay for transit trips using contactless credit cards and digital wallets on NFC-enabled phones and smart watches.
September 29, 2023: Contactless Payments Available to General Public
On September 29, 2023, SEPTA made the feature to pay for transit trips using contactless credit cards and digital wallets on NFC-enabled phones and smart watches available to the general public.
2023: SEPTA Sole Operator of All Five Terrestrial Transit Vehicles
In 2023, SEPTA became the only U.S. transit authority operating all five major types of terrestrial transit vehicles: regional commuter rail trains, rapid transit subway and elevated trains, light rail trolleys, trolleybuses, and motorbuses, after Boston's MBTA discontinued its trolleybuses.
2023: PCC cars return with plastic seating
In 2023, the PCC cars, which are being rebuilt by SEPTA, are scheduled to return to service and will feature plastic seating.
2023: Regional Rail Ridership in 2023
In 2023, the daily ridership on the SEPTA regional rail network averaged 58,713, with the Lansdale/Doylestown, Paoli/Thorndale, and Trenton lines each receiving over 7,000 riders per day.
2023: Tri-State Mall transfer point moved
In 2023, the transfer point at the Tri-State Mall was moved to the Claymont Transportation Center.
2023: Reduced Funding from Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
In the fiscal year of 2023, SEPTA's funding from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission was reduced to $50,000,000 as a result of Act 89.
January 1, 2024: Tokens No Longer Accepted
Effective January 1, 2024, SEPTA no longer accepts tokens at vehicle fareboxes or fare kiosks.
December 1, 2024: Electronic Payment Methods Price Increase
On December 1, 2024, electronic payment methods price was raised to match the cash base rate ($2.50).
December 2024: Limited Pilot Program to Test Contactless Payments on Regional Rail
In December 2024, SEPTA began a limited pilot program to test contactless payments on Regional Rail.
2024: Leslie Richards Resigned
In 2024, general manager Leslie Richards resigned from SEPTA.
2024: SEPTA Metro Rollout Planned
In late 2023, SEPTA upgraded its website in advance of the planned rollout of SEPTA Metro in 2024.
April 4, 2025: Contactless Payments Available on Regional Rail
On April 4, 2025, SEPTA made contactless payments generally available on Regional Rail (excluding Trenton and West Trenton stations), making it the first agency in the US to offer contactless payments on commuter rail.
April 2025: Potential Route Cuts for SEPTA
As of April 2025, SEPTA may need to cut many routes if the Pennsylvania State Senate does not vote to give SEPTA a higher budget for 2026.
June 30, 2025: Zero Fare Key Cards Distribution
SEPTA plans to distribute a further 20,000 Zero Fare Key Cards by June 30, 2025, during the second year of the pilot program.
2026: Potential SEPTA Budget Increase
In April 2025, it was mentioned that the Pennsylvania State Senate needs to vote to give SEPTA a higher budget for 2026 to prevent potential route cuts.
2027: New low floor streetcars to enter service
Between 2027 and 2030, SEPTA is planning for the new low floor streetcars built and delivered by Alstom to enter service.
2030: New low floor streetcars to enter service
Between 2027 and 2030, SEPTA is planning for the new low floor streetcars built and delivered by Alstom to enter service.
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