Jamila Robinson, Staff Writer

Living in a city with a robust mass transit system makes getting around easier, and often, the fastest way to navigate is by utilizing public transportation. For those unfamiliar, SEPTA offers a convenient option for commuting to and from campus while also allowing for enjoyable leisure time in the city. If you’re not yet comfortable using the system, I’d like to share a brief guide to help you out. Many, if not most, residents rely on public transport to travel throughout the city.

SEPTA currently operates across five counties in the greater Philadelphia area and connects with transit systems in New Jersey and Delaware. It’s worth noting that it can sometimes be unreliable, crowded, slow, or even not available. However, for the most part, it remains a dependable means of transportation within Philadelphia and its surrounding areas. Whether you’re a visitor, a novice, or an experienced traveler, you’ll eventually need to utilize the public transportation system.

I would advise that you be alert and vigilant in your travels and stay aware of your surroundings at all times. If it looks suspicious, keep away. If you see something, report it and keep it moving. Your safety should be the number one priority at all times. You will come in contact with all walks of life, so be courteous and keep your head on a swivel.

SEPTA’s Broad Street Line, commonly referred to as the “Orange Line,” can be accessed from campus at the Olney Transportation Center. Here, you can catch both local and express trains, as the subway travels north and south along Broad Street. Once you arrive in Center City, depending on your destination, you have the option to switch to the Market-Frankford Line, known as the “Blue Line”. This line runs from the  Far Northeast to 69th Street Transportation Center in Delaware County, with connections to the Norristown High Speed Line. Additionally, SEPTA’s trolley services, often called the “Green Line,” will take you to West Philadelphia and even further into Delaware County.

Unfortunately, there is no place on campus to obtain any SEPTA products, however, the Olney Transportation Center is easily accessible for all purchases; you can reload funds to your SEPTA Key Card via the website which is highly recommended for safe and easier processing. It is also very easy to add purchases to your card and order a replacement if needed. 

You can make purchases online via the SEPTA website here. Now, let’s get to cost:

• $2.00 – fare for a one-way fare using SEPTA’s Key Card, contactless payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.), and KeyTix via SEPTA’s app.
• $2.50 – a one-way fare on transit using cash or SEPTA’s Quick Trip card
• $25.50 – for a weekly TransPass+ for use within city limits
• $96.00 – for a monthly TransPass+ for use within city limits

This is only the basics of what the traveling experience can be like on SEPTA; all this will remain the same while SEPTA navigates financial issues. They have a $240 million operating deficit, and the state legislature has yet to solidify a deal for public transit funding for this fiscal year despite mounting pressure from the transit agency. The public transit system is the lifeblood of the city’s economy. People use it to get to work, get their kids to school and it impacts every aspect of day-to-day life for many Philadelphians. These funding issues will affect the SEPTA and the roads and bridges throughout Pennsylvania. If the transit agency doesn’t get funded, it will have to cut services that it currently provides.

Cuts to service could look like sales offices closing, making it difficult to make purchases. Fare increases affecting us all, bus route replacements (with some being removed), and SEPTA access programs being downsized are all options the agency must consider. This would cripple the city and cause the funding deficit to worsen. A strike could happen for the current Transit Workers Union (TWU) whose contract expires in November 2024, and transit employees have gone on strike before. SEPTA is hopeful to reach an agreement during the ongoing negotiations.