SEPTA Fares to Increase July 1

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) fares, including Regional Rail, will increase in July if SEPTA’s Board approves the proposed rates.

Weekday Zone 3 rates, which include stations in the Conshohocken area, will increase 25 cents, and a ten-trip Zone 3 plan will go up $4.50.

Weekday Zone 3 cash rates will increase by $1, and the weekly TrailPass will increase $2.

The cost of a monthly Zone 3 pass will increase about 5 percent, from $155 to $163

For full details on the increase, which is considered a cost-of-living priced fare increase by SEPTA,click here.

SEPTA is also expected to introduce its new SmartCard system early next year, which will also be used for Suburban Rail. This will allow customers to pay with a debit card or smartphone. The systems is expected to be available in January of 2014.

According to Philly.com, “Riders will tap a card on an electronic reader that will automatically deduct the fare. They will be able to use any "contactless" bank card or SEPTA's own chip-equipped card.”

SEPTA will hold public hearings on the increase on April 16 at the Montgomery County Human Services Center in Norristown and April 17 at SEPTA Headquarters in Philadelphia at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.