MASS TRANSIT  in Center City

Three metropolitan transit systems converge in Center City: SEPTA, PATCO and NJT.
Within Center City SEPTA has a subway system, a sub-surface system, bus routes, and a regional railway system.

PATCO is a joint venture between Philly and New Jersey.

NJT has a regional rail--which does not enter Philadelphia, and bus routes which enter Center City only and no other part of Philadelphia.

(Un)fare

SEPTA is the 5th largest in the US and has among the highest fare in North America.

FARE
Bus, subway, subway-surface, trolley, El: One-way is $2.00. Cash may not be accepted for subway and subway surface. Tokens are $1.45. There is no discount for buying in quantity. Take the mass transit 3 times a day or more, everyday and a monthly pass is a value. Weekly passes and day passes are also available. Monthly passes are labeled with day-glo tape; M for male or F for female, to discourage sharing a pass.

You can pass through the turnstiles with $2.00 in coins. No pennies. No change is given. Transfers and Retransfers are available from SEPTA drivers or booth trolls for 75 cents each. (see SEPTA Bus or Subway for transfer details.) Exact change is not necessary at subway booths. You must offer your transfer to the SEPTA drone in the subway booth in order to enter, or to the trolley or bus driver. You cannot get a transfer and a fare for $2.00. That would cost $2.75 or $3.00 if you do not have exact change.

 

A day pass is $6.00 and entitles you to eight trips on any transit mode. You can't use it to cross zones on the reginal rail. A day pass must be purchased in advance from a ticket agent or via mail.


Weekly TransPass is $20.75. Monthly TransPasses are $78.00
Neither depicted because their appearance changes.


 

Tokens  photo SEPTA token
Currently $1.45 each but not sold individually. Not every station offers tokens for sale. Tokens can be purchased at some stations by machine or ticket office window, but never at a subway booth or on a bus or train. The machines are cantankerous and won’t accept most bills unless they have just been printed, or ironed. Further, you can only purchase tokens from a machine in quantities of: 2, 4, 5 or 7. You cannot buy tokens inside the turnstiles!

If there is a manned booth, the SEPTA drone may refuse to sell you tokens and neglect to tell you what your options are for boarding, such as paying cash. If you're really lucky they will sell you a transfer and refuse you change. Also, they never sell you one token or four. You must buy in quantities of: 2, 5 or 10.

Tokens are good for Bus, Trolley, Subway-Surface and Subway (rumored to be good on all regional rail lines within CC.).
Tokens can be purchased at some Rite Aid Pharmacies, but most have signs that read “Temporarily out of tokens.” Not all stores carry tokens. Rite Aid will close 15 minutes early, too. SEPTA has a store locator page online.

In CC Philadelphia you pay and board. Some places, outside the city limits, you pay as you deboard. such as buses and the 100 line departing from 69th Street terminal.

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