When Philadelphia students return to the classroom at the end of August, they will receive the new fare card that SEPTA has been developing to phase out the use of their student transportation card.

Approximately 65,000 students who rely on SEPTA to get to and from school will receive new Student fare card On the first day of class, August 31st, tThe Philadelphia School District and SEPTA announced on Thursday. Contactless, reusable chip cards will be used in the 2021-22 school year.

With the new card, students will be able to click to board SEPTA Bus, trolleybus and subway The card is valid only on school days up to eight times between 5:30 am and 8 pm each day. Those who use the regional railway line to learn can upgrade their student fare card at designated SEPTA stations for approximately US$10 per 5-day school week.

“After the successful pilot program earlier this year, we are very pleased to be able to introduce student fare cards across the region,” Say Reggie McNeil, Chief Operating Officer of the Philadelphia School District. “This shift will help reduce our carbon footprint by eliminating weekly laminate passes through the use of reusable plastic cards. It will also provide security measures to prevent the loss or theft of fare cards.”

Before the upcoming school year, SEPTA officials stated that they have taken steps to strengthen safety along the Market-Frankford Line.

“We look forward to welcoming students back to SEPTA and providing them with a more convenient way to access the system,” said Leslie S. Richards, General Manager and CEO of SEPTA. “Our top priority is always the safety of our employees and riders, including students who take SEPTA to school.”

As SEPTA began planning the next phase of its SEPTA Key platform, including the ability to allow passengers to enter the station using a smartphone, the student fare card debuted. This feature is expected to be launched later this year and early 2022.

The city and SEPTA also collaborated on a Free Safe Route Philadelphia Plan Provide traffic safety courses for students who ride bicycles to school. The plan is part of the city’s “Vision Zero” initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic casualties by 2030.

Mike Carroll, deputy general manager of the Philadelphia Department of Transportation, said: “We are proud to support the school district and SEPTA in transitioning to the new student fare card by teaching students safe street skills and actively discussing traffic safety issues with families.”