Philly's low-income residents got a boost with a hefty grant backing their free rides on the city's public transit. The City of Philadelphia scored a $578,340 grant from the William Penn Foundation to gauge the impact of its Zero Fare pilot program, as announced by City of Philadelphia officials yesterday.
Launched in August 2023, the Zero Fare initiative aims to alleviate transportation costs for Philadelphians hunkered down at or below poverty. Partnering with SEPTA and several community organizations, the program has dished out roughly 25,000 cards resulting in nearly two million swipes to date. "Access to public transportation is essential to help connect more people with jobs and services across the city," Shawn McCaney, Executive Director of the William Penn Foundation, said in a statement obtained by the City of Philadelphia press release. "We applaud the City of Philadelphia for launching this important initiative and expect the evaluation of the pilot will help identify opportunities to continue to strengthen this program into the future."
The grant will help the city team up with the Georgetown University Better Government Lab and the Urban Institute to scrutinize enrollment and outcomes for those snagging the free rides during the two-year trial. This data dive will inform City leadership's decisions, open to both City's brass and the public eye.
"We are thankful to the William Penn Foundation for supporting the evaluation of the pilot so we can examine the data that will help us assess the effectiveness and value of Zero Fare and make decisions based on solid research and data," said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. The program, she notes, is a boon for those burdened by transit fares, potentially curtailing their access to essential services, job training, and healthcare. "We’re hoping Zero Fare can be a City benefit that helps more residents achieve a great quality of life," Parker stated on behalf of the City of Philadelphia.
Enrollment in Zero Fare is a breeze – it's automatic for the eligible, with no need for applications. SEPTA Key cards zip out to participants after community outreach waves. SEPTA's top exec, Leslie S. Richards, touted the program's broad reach and existing perks for participants. She said, "The evaluation will be a tool that we can all use to enhance and grow the program," as per the City of Philadelphia statement.
