A token farewell: Philadelphia transit gets modern
A medal token is shown in this Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, photo. A public transit system that still uses metal tokens and paper transfers is finally moving into the era of debit cards and pay-by-cellphone technology. After years of promises, passengers in Philadelphia can see evidence of a new smart card system. Philadelphia is among the last major transit systems in North America to still use metal tokens. Chicago stopped selling them in 1999, followed by New York in 2003 and Boston in 2006. (AP Photo/Alyssa Goodman) newsandtalking.blogspot.comPHILADELPHIA (AP) - A public transit system that still uses metal tokens and paper transfers - yes, in the 21st century - appears finally to be moving into the era of debit cards and pay-by-cellphone technology.
Philadelphia riders can now see evidence of SEPTA Key, the long-awaited smart card system for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Dozens of computerized kiosks, turnstiles and fare boxes have popped up in stations and on vehicles, and testing begins this month.
'We see this project as taking us in the fare payment industry from last place to first place,' said Kevin O'Brien, SEPTA senior program manager.
What exactly does 'last place' mean? Let's start with Philadelphia being one of the few cities in North America to still use tokens for buses, subways and trolleys. Chicago stopped selling them in 1999, followed by New York in 2003 and Boston in 2006. (Though Toronto continues to use them.)
However, SEPTA doesn't have token machines at every station, and cashiers aren't always on duty. When they are, they don't necessarily sell tokens; sometimes, they just accept exact change for the $2.25 cash fare - which, by the way, is higher than the $1.80 token cost.
Oh, and token machines don't take credit cards.
This is how the nation's sixth-largest transportation system operates? Incredibly, the answer is yes.
Which leaves a lot of ground to cover to reach 'first place.' But officials say that SEPTA Key, when fully implemented, will be the most comprehensive and seamless fare system in the U.S., offering multiple payment options and integration with commuter trains.
Every subway station will have kiosks that accept credit and debit cards. Riders with microchipped bank cards or a cellphone app can pay right at the turnstile or bus fare box. And forget about those paper bus transfers - Key cards recognize connected trips and deduct accordingly.
SEPTA has been promising the changes at least as far back as 2007 but didn't award the $130 million contract until 2011. The program was delayed by funding problems such as reductions in state aid and other mandated safety spending, agency spokeswoman Jerri Williams said.
SEPTA officials are coy about when customers will finally get Keys to the system; they say only that it should roll out in 2015 and be completed the following year. That's comparable to the five years it took Boston to fully deploy its CharlieCard system.
The Key card can't come soon enough for Catherine Anderson. The subway station closest to her west Philadelphia home doesn't have a token machine, and the cashier booth isn't staffed during off-peak hours.
'I just find that really frustrating,' said Anderson, 31. 'I don't know why there aren't token machines everywhere.'
SEPTA does sell weekly and monthly passes that commuters can swipe in turnstiles and fare boxes. But they can't be renewed; riders have to wait in line to purchase new ones from an attendant at the start of each week or month. With the new system, those passes will be available - and renewable - at any kiosk, anytime.
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