SEPTA's board has approved a $211 million contract for a next-generation fare collection system to replace the aging SEPTA Key across its regional mass transit network. Cubic Transportation Systems Inc. will design, install, and operate the new system.
The current SEPTA Key system, while only in use for nine years, runs on nearly 15-year-old technology. SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch compared it to using a 2011 iPhone versus a current model. The existing system has faced reliability issues, including card failures that forced SEPTA to offer free rides, resulting in revenue losses.
The …
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SEPTA's board has approved a $211 million contract for a next-generation fare collection system to replace the aging SEPTA Key across its regional mass transit network. Cubic Transportation Systems Inc. will design, install, and operate the new system.
The current SEPTA Key system, while only in use for nine years, runs on nearly 15-year-old technology. SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch compared it to using a 2011 iPhone versus a current model. The existing system has faced reliability issues, including card failures that forced SEPTA to offer free rides, resulting in revenue losses.
The new SEPTA Key 2.0 will feature open architecture, allowing it to accommodate future payment technologies that haven't yet been developed. "We don't want our customers to have to guess whether or not the system's working. We want it to be reliable and consistent," Busch said.
The system won't be visible to riders until at least 2027, after major events like the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup and MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, SEPTA will expand the current system to enable contactless payments on regional rail, matching the capability already available on buses, subways, and trolleys.
Behind-the-scenes engineering work will begin in the next year to ensure a smooth transition in 2027.
