SEPTA Student Fare Card

Overview

What is the SEPTA Student Fare Card?

It is a reusable chipped card used by students to board a SEPTA trolley, Regional Rail, bus or subway. Unlike the disposable weekly Transpass, students will be able to use the SEPTA Student Fare Card for the entire school year.

If a SEPTA Student Fare Card is lost, stolen, or damaged the student will reach out to their school to request a replacement.

How will my student receive a card?

On the first day of school, all forms of transportation on SEPTA including buses, trains, and Regional Rail will be free to students so they can get to school safely on their first day, Tuesday September 5th.

Once at school, the new Fare Cards will be distributed to students by a school official.

How do I know if my students are eligible for a Fare Card?

The Department of Transportation Services’ Scheduling Department determines student eligibility for Fare Cards based on specific criteria. Information on eligibility can be found HERE.

SEPTA Student Fare Card Informational Pamphlet

The Department of Transportation Services has created a pamphlet to share with students, parents, or administrators who have questions about the SEPTA Student Fare Card:

SEPTA Student Fare Card Quick Links

Contact us
SEPTA FARE CARD COMMUNICATION TO SCHOOL
Purchasing Passes
Frequently Asked Questions for Schools and Parents
SEPTA Student Fare Card Delivery Schedule
Having an issue with your SEPTA Student Fare Card?
Helpful "How-To" Videos
SEPTA Student Fare Card Training Resources
SEPTA COVID-19 Guidelines
SEPTA Blog about the Student Fare Card
SEPTA Student Fare Card Info Slideshow
SEPTA TWO-TRIP PASS
SEPTA SUMMER STUDENT FARE CARD

SEPTA Student Fare Card Guidelines

SEPTA Student Fare Cards will be valid for travel to and from school with a limit of no more than 8 taps per day, during the hours of 5:30am and 8:00pm.

A “Tap” is how you gain access to the SEPTA system and how a SEPTA Student Fare Card transaction is recorded.

Students are reminded that a SEPTA Student Fare Card is only valid for travel by the eligible Student and cannot be shared. There is no cost to the Student or Parent/Guardian for this card, as SEPTA transportation is provided through the School District. It is important that students notify their School Administrator in the event their SEPTA Student Fare Card is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Frequently Asked Questions for Parents

What is a SEPTA Student Key Card?

  • A SEPTA Student Key Card is a contact-free chipped card that is used by students who are eligible to board a SEPTA trolley, bus or subway.
  • The SEPTA Student Key Card will replace the Weekly Student Transpass at the start of the 2021-22 school year.

How will my student get one?

  • On the first day of school, all forms of transportation on SEPTA including buses, trains and subways will be free to students so they can get to school safely on their first day, Tuesday, August 31.
  • Once at school, the new Fare Cards will be distributed to students in the same manner they received their transpasses.

How will the Department of Transportation notify families about the SEPTA Student Fare Card?

  • The Department of Transportation Services will send letters to the families of students who are currently eligible for transpass.

When can the SEPTA Student Fare Card be used?

  • The SEPTA Student Fare Card is active for each designated school day from the hours of 5:30 am to 8:00 pm.
    • SEPTA Student Fare Cards will not be operational on national holidays, weekends, and predetermined non-school days.

What is a “Tap?”

  • A tap is SEPTA’s term for accessing transportation. It is a remote accessible way of entering the transportation type using the SEPTA Student Key Card.
  • Students will “tap” their SEPTA Student Key Card as they board each mode of transportation.
  • Each SEPTA Student Key Card will be programmed with a maximum of eight taps per day.
    • School resources should reach out to the Department of Transportation Services regarding any student who requires more than eight daily taps.

How are students expected to get to school on the first day, if they won't yet have their card?

  • No changes have been made to the existing process regarding transportation on the first day of school.
  • SEPTA will allow students to travel for free on September 5, 2023.

What holidays are blocked on all SEPTA Student Fare Cards?

In addition to published school holidays no SEPTA Student, Fare Card is operational on the dates below. If your school needs SEPTA Student Fare Cards activated for any of these dates, please have a school official send an email to transpass@philasd.org. Please review the school calendar for additional days that the SEPTA Student Fare Card is not operational.

2023-24 School Year

  • Monday, September 4th – Labor Day
  • Thursday, November 24th – Thanksgiving
  • Monday, December 25th – Christmas
  • Monday, January 1st – New Year’s Day
  • Monday, January 15th – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Monday, February 21st – President’s Day
  • Monday, May 30th – Memorial Day

What happens when a SEPTA Student Key Card is lost, stolen or damaged?

  • Schools will be given an inventory and have the ability to distribute replacement cards to students who report their assigned SEPTA Student Key Card as lost, stolen or damaged.
  • Schools will need to report cards as lost, stolen or damaged in the SEPTA Student Key Card application. Reported cards will be sent to SEPTA nightly for deactivation.
  • After an assigned SEPTA Student Key Card has been marked as lost, stolen or damaged in the SEPTA Student Key Card application, the school can assign a replacement card to the student, which will be active for the next school day.
  • Once a SEPTA Student Key Card has been deactivated by SEPTA, it can not be reactivated.

Will there be resources for the parents to reference this change and how it works?

Are there any restrictions on when the SEPTA Student Key Cards can be used for transportation services?

  • SEPTA Student Key Cards will be active for each designated school day from the hours of 5:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Will new SEPTA Student Key Cards be needed for all students at the start of each school year?

  • Students who remain eligible for transportation services and are enrolled in the same school as the previous school year will be able to utilize their SEPTA Student Key Card for the new school year.
  • Students who are enrolled in a new school from the previous school year, will need to be re-evaluated for eligibility and if eligible will require a new SEPTA Student Key Card assigned for the new school year.

If a student loses, damages or has their card stolen before getting to school, how do they gain access to transportation that morning?

  • The student will be responsible for getting to school that morning and the school will issue a replacement card. The replacement card will not be activated until the following morning.

If the students are not able to gain access to their transportation due to a problem with the SEPTA Student Key Card and/or SEPTA hardware, will the dispatcher permit them to ride?

  • SEPTA has informed the District, students participating in the program that experience transportation issues can show the SEPTA employee a SEPTA Student Key Card and will be permitted to access transportation services.
  • Ridership issues should be reported by the student to the school as soon as possible.

A student forgot their SEPTA Student Key Card on their way to transportation. Will the student be able to gain access to ride?

  • The student will be responsible for getting to and from school for that day. Replacement cards should only be issued in the event the card is lost, stolen or
    damaged.

If students are attending summer programs through the school will the SEPTA Student Fare Cards be reactivated?

  • Please check back for updates. More information will be provided on this question by the Spring of 2022.