SEPTA Key

SEPTA Key is a somewhat open, standards-based automated fare payment system that (when complete) will be used for fare payment on the bus, heavy rail and commuter rail networks of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). The system, which was launched on subway, bus and high-speed train routes in August 2017, replaces the agency's original token-based payment system.

Description

Electronic validators that have been installed on bus fareboxes and at turnstiles on the system’s Broad Street and Market Street heavy rail lines and that will soon be installed at commuter rail stations will accept a agency-issued “Key Card,” Single-ride “Quick Tickets” and contactless bank cards as fare media (link). The Key Card is a contactless smart card that can store One-day, weekly or monthly passes, as well as a “travel wallet” that can store monetary (minimum 10$) value for use on single rides (next link). The card can be purchased at customer service outlets, online or from ticket kiosks at stations (link). It can be registered on the key card’s website to permit online loading of value and to preserve cards’ balance in case of theft. The Quick Trip is a magnetic stripe paper ticket that can be used to purchase individual rides (although it costs 50 cents more than an individual fare paid for through the travel wallet (https://www.septakey.org/ecustomer_enu/start.swe#SWEApplet2).

History

SEPTA’s planning for a new ticketing system, to replace its token-based payment system, began in 2007 (Laughlin, Campisi 2018). The agency issued a Request for Proposals in 2008, and awarded a $129 million contract to Xerox corporation in 2011 (Laracy 2016). An article that appeared in Mass Transit Magazine shortly after the contract was signed, claimed that the proposed system would allow passengers to pay fares with a “‘contactless’ credit or debit card or even their smartphone.” The contract provided for the system’s installation on the bus, trolley, subway and regional rail system. The system’s roll-out was initially scheduled for 2013 (Laughlin 2015) on city transit and 2014 on regional rail. However, a “limited” release of the system to 10,000 passengers did not occur until June 2016, with the system’s full release on city transit (subway, bus and high speed service) transpiring in March 2017. The system has yet to be implemented on regional rail (see SEPTA website). Articles from 2014 and 2015 cite the agency’s desire to avoid the pitfalls experienced by Chicago’s Ventra Card System <link> (also released in 2013) as a rationale for delay. More generally, an article from December 2015 noted that the agency failed to grasp the complexity, in devising its timetable, of upgrading to an open-loop fare payment system for services on six transportation modes. A series of software bugs in detected in 2015 further impeded progress on the project (Saksa 2015). The system’s contractor (ACS Xerox) imposed at least 10 change orders adding up to at least $11 million (Laughlin 2015). In addition to the change orders, delays had cost SEPTA at least 21.4 million by the end of 2015 (Saksa 2015), but due to liability caps included in the contract, SEPTA could claim $14.6 million at most.