Starting Friday, May 8, SEPTA riders will be able to cover the whole crew with a single tap. One contactless card or mobile wallet can now pay fares for up to five people at once, expanding a previously limited multi-rider option to include credit and debit cards along with mobile wallets. The feature will work on buses, subways, trolleys and Regional Rail, and officials say it should make group trips, from family outings to visiting sports fans, a lot less chaotic this summer.
What SEPTA Announced
In a press release, SEPTA said riders can now tap the same contactless payment once for each passenger, up to five riders total, across buses, subways, trolleys and Regional Rail. The agency noted that contactless trips are up about 20% from last year, and that those taps now account for more than half of Bus and Metro single-trip purchases and 23% of Regional Rail single-trip purchases.
SEPTA also emphasized that contactless fares are priced the same as Travel Wallet fares, so riders are not paying extra for the convenience. Anyone who runs into trouble with the new setup can call the Key Call Center at 1-855-56-SEPTA for help from a human instead of just guessing at the farebox.
From SEPTA’s General Manager
In the same release from SEPTA, General Manager Scott A. Sauer said, “Rolling out this technology is another way we are making SEPTA easier to navigate for both first-time visitors and regular riders.”
He added that the update is timed to help the agency move crowds more efficiently during some heavy-hitter events on the calendar, including the PGA Championship, the FIFA World Cup, the MLB All-Star Game and other summer happenings that can pack platforms and platforms and station entrances in a hurry.
Timing And Ridership Context
Local coverage from NBC10 Philadelphia noted that the rollout lands just as the region braces for a run of major events, when SEPTA use tends to surge. According to the station, contactless usage can spike as much as 25% during large gatherings, which makes a smoother way to get groups through the fare gates a timely upgrade.
NBC10 Philadelphia also pointed out that the multi-rider feature had previously been limited to SEPTA Key cards. By extending it to contactless credit and debit cards and mobile wallets, SEPTA is giving a break to visitors and occasional riders who are not likely to have a SEPTA Key card in their pocket before they hit the platform.
Tips For Riders
If you are traveling with friends or family, decide in advance whose card or phone will be the “group pass” and use that one contactless card or mobile wallet to tap in for each rider as you board or enter. Just remember, the system tops out at five people per payment method.
Riders still using Key Tix should keep in mind that the mobile ticketing platform is being phased out. For a deeper dive on what that means, including timing and how transfers work as the phase-out continues, check Hoodline’s earlier coverage of the end of Key Tix. For anything more complicated, SEPTA’s customer support channels are still the best place to sort out issues before your next ride.
