The Travelin Grampa Touring the U.S.A

The Travelin Grampa Touring the U.S.A. without an automobile

Focus on safe, fast, convenient, comfortable, cheap travel, via public transit. Vol. 9, No. 10 October 2016

Illustration credits: Facebook posts by Sen. Thomas J. McGarrigle.

Left: SEPTA customer service reps process an applicant for a senior SEPTA Key card at the Drexel Hill office of state senator Thomas J. McGarrigle. Right: Flyer announcing Senior Key Photo Day being held Nov. 10, hosted by Sen. McGarrigle and state Rep. Jamie Santora. Story on pages 2 to 6.

Philly-area seniors getting new ‘free ride’ transit ID cards Yellow and blue paper non-photo ID cards Philadelphia area seniors now use to ride on transit buses and streetcars without paying are about to become obsolete as Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority switches to new SEPTA Key photo-ID “smart” fare cards. SEPTA is set to phase out metal tokens and paper passes, transfers and railroad tickets, not that this matters much to seniors who, except for train tickets, mostly don’t use them. Even after the paper cards disappear, to ride without paying, seniors still can “swipe” their Pennsylvania driver's license or photo ID on bus, streetcar, light rail and subway-el station turnstile fare card readers. Others will get aboard merely by showing a Medicare card. Grampa’s paid $27.50 for his Pennsylvania non-driver photo-ID card. The SEPTA Key photo ID card he recently applied for cost nothing. Even if you need a non-driver photo ID for other good reasons, such as air travel, get the SEPTA Key senior photo ID card. It’s the best bargain in town.

Pennsylvania Lottery funds pay for ‘free’ senior rides on transit Anyone age 65 or above, including non-residents, can ride on most public transit for free within Pennsylvania. Exceptions include on-demand shared ride vehicles and Philly area regional railroads. The latter is $1 per ride for seniors. During the year past, nearly $170-million in lottery funds paid for more than 34-million free transit rides and 4-million shared rides, or about 104,000 free and reduced-fare senior rides every day. The lottery pays about 85% of each shared ride fare.

======SEPTA’S NEW FARE PAYMENT SYSTEM .

State legislators sign up numerous SEPTA Key card seniors Of about 40,000 seniors who have signed up for free SEPTA Key cards, many did so at events sponsored by Pennsylvania legislators and Philadelphia city council members. These cards will make it easier to ride without paying on SEPTA transit bus, streetcar, subway and light rail lines, and for $1 per ride – $8.50 for a strip of ten one-ride tickets – on SEPTA Regional Rail’s commuter trains. “Pennsylvania residents, age 65 years or older, who possess a valid ID, are automatically eligible to participate in SEPTA’s Seniors Ride Free Program,” state Sen. Tom McGarrigle told seniors at a December 2015 signup session at his Drexel Hill district office.* “A valid unexpired driver’s license or state-issued ID can be swiped at the turnstile or onboard a vehicle,” McGarrigle noted. But only if it shows the user’s age is 65 or older. On an average weekday, about 80,000 seniors take advantage of the lottery funded rides. SEPTA expects to begin mailing out the new cards next month, about 10,000 each week, to those already signed-up. Its sign-up campaign is continuing.

Delaware County state Sen. Thomas McGarrigle was among the first to stage a SEPTA Key card signup and photo shoot event. Philadelphia state Rep Vanessa Lowrey Brown was among the latest to do so.

Few complaints from 10,000 SEPTA Key guinea pigs During June, SEPTA Key cards were issued to 10,000 folks it calls “early adopters.” These mainly are regular commuters holding a weekly or monthly transit pass for riding on subways, city and suburban buses and trolleys.** They got their cards from fare card dispensers at a dozen subway and elevated train stations, or at SEPTA’s center city sales office. The “early adopter” program provides “valuable feedback we can use to further enhance the customer experience moving forward,” said Jeff Knueppel, general manager. He didn’t indicate when SEPTA would stop issuing metal tokens and paper transfers. * Actually, someone need not be a Pennsylvania resident. ** Philadelphia area folks call streetcars “trolleys.”

======SEPTA’S NEW FARE PAYMENT SYSTEM .

Photo credits: Rep Duane Milne’s Office; Rep. John Taylor on Facebook.

Left: Shaking hands with a constituent senior is state Rep. Duane Milne at his Chester County district office, as a SEPTA customer relations rep types in pertinent information. Right: SEPTA customer relations reps at the Port Richmond office of state Rep. John Taylor snap a picture of a senior Key card applicant.

Chester County: Rep. Milne: Seniors ride free now, but new card a big advance Chester County seniors signed up for SEPTA Key cards Sept. 16 at the West Whiteland Township Building in Exton, after calling state Rep. Duane Milne, to set up a good time to have their photos taken. Rep. Milne told them that, until they get their cards some weeks hence, “We want to assure those seniors that they will continue to ride the Regional Rail for $1 and for free on all SEPTA transit services, as they are presently doing.” He foresees the Key system in wide use during 2017.

City of Philadelphia: Seniors flock to Rep. Taylor’s SEPTA Key card event Seniors flocked to a SEPTA Key card signup and photo shoot March 9 at Rep. John Taylor’s office on Thompson St. in Philly’s Port Richmond section. Rep. Taylor also holds an annual Senior Expo, this year’s being Oct 14 at Cohocksink Recreation Center. This is a free one-stop information fair, where government officials and experts from businesses and nonprofits answer questions and provide help to seniors and their families. Free bus service is provided at several convenient pickup/drop-off locations.

Photo credits: Rep. John Taylor on Facebook.

Seniors at the office of Rep. John Taylor line up to get photo taken for SEPTA Key card.

======SEPTA’S NEW FARE PAYMENT SYSTEM .

Montgomery County: Rep. Murt welcomes seniors to Key card photo shoot at his office On Feb. 3, seniors were welcomed to a Key card photo shoot in the district office of Rep. Thomas Murt in Hatboro, in Montgomery county. Murt said he was “pleased to make my office available to help seniors apply for a special card and have their photos taken without having to travel to a SEPTA sales location” in faraway downtown Philadelphia.

Delaware County: Rep. Santora has two offices to handle Key card applications When state Rep. James R. Santora heard some of his constituents were traveling into downtown Philadelphia to apply for a SEPTA Key card, he decided to make things a little easier for them by handling their applications and taking photos for SEPTA cards at his two offices in suburban Delaware County, in Clifton Heights and Drexel Hill. “The cards provide adults 65 and older a safe, convenient, cost-effective way to travel,” he noted. “To help the mature members of our community take advantage of SEPTA’s seniors ride free program, my offices will be issuing SEPTA Key photo-ID cards so everyone is prepared when the paper Transit ID cards are eliminated,” said Santora. “I encourage local seniors to stop by to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Montgomery and Philadelphia counties: Rep. DeLissio lets seniors apply at mutually convenient time State Rep. Pamela A. DeLissio, whose district is in both Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, lets constituents 65 and older arrange an appointment that’s mutually convenient for to apply for a SEPTA Key card. Her district office is on Ridge Ave. in Philadelphia. “A great number of our senior residents rely on SEPTA for their everyday travel throughout the city and suburbs,” said DeLissio. “My staff and I can help our older adult constituents complete the application and photo process for obtaining their SEPTA Key cards in a friendly and convenient location – and my district office is that location.”

Montgomery County: Rep. Harper hosts signup for Key card and shared-ride program At state Rep. Kate Harper’s district office in Blue Bell, Montgomery County, seniors signed up in March for the SEPTA Key senior ID card while also registering for the county’s TransNet’s shared ride program. “Seniors who can no longer drive, or prefer not to, have affordable options available to them,” said Harper, referring to SEPTA and TransNet as “both valuable services.” TransNet provides transportation services within Montgomery County. Participating seniors call a day before transportation is needed to arrange to share a discounted-fare ride with others in a sedan or van. The program is funded by Pennsylvania Lottery proceeds and is available to seniors age 65 and above who register with TransNet.

Bucks County: Rep. Quinn thanks all her SEPTA Key photo shoot participants At least one suburban Philadelphia state legislator is very grateful so many seniors showed up at a SEPTA Key Photo Day event she hosted in mid-January. State Rep. Marguerite Corr Quinn, sent a “Thank You” note on Facebook to all event participants. The event took place at the Central Bucks County Senior Center in Doylestown.

======SEPTA’S NEW FARE PAYMENT SYSTEM . Photo credits: CTA; Denver RTD; ClipperCard.om; LA MTA; Jared Brey, Philadelphia Magazine.

L to R: Chicago reduced fare Ventra card gives at least 50% discount; Denver MyRide card charges senior $1.10 for a $2.25 light rail ride; San Francisco Senior Clipper gives up to 65% discount, Los Angeles area’s Senior TAP card gives $84 worth of rides for $35; regular rider (not senior) SEPTA Key fare card.

City of Philadelphia: No appointment necessary, says city councilman Bobby Henon Northeast Philadelphia councilman Bobby Henon doesn’t even require an appointment. “My staff has been trained and is ready to help seniors ride SEPTA for free!” he declares. “Come by anytime. No need to call ahead.” He says his office is equipped to help any constituent age 65 or above apply for what he calls “the PA Senior Citizen Transit ID Card.” This includes the new SEPTA Key card. “We have the applications and photo capabilities at my district office location,” he adds. “All you need to do is stop by the office with an accepted form of ID.” Communities in Henon’s council district include: Ashton, Bells Corner, Bridesburg, Castor Gardens, East Torresdale, Frankford, Holme Circle, Holmesburg, Lexington Park, Mayfair, Oxford Circle, Port Richmond, Rhawnhurst, Tacony and Wissinoming.

Chester County: Sen. Dinniman hosts several Chester County SEPTA Key events Seniors signed up and had photos taken at the Adult Care of Chester County, in Exton, on Sept. 20, at the invitation of state Sen. Andrew E. Dinniman. Since early this year, this state senator has hosted several SEPTA Key senior enrollment events throughout Chester County. Among the first was on April 20 at a senior center in West Chester. Others that followed included May 11 and 18 at senior centers in Downingtown and Coatesville. “It is important to be prepared for the transition to SEPTA Key,” he declared. “That is why we are encouraging seniors to get their new free SEPTA Key Senior ID cards at one of these enrollment events.” While present forms of valid ID are quite adequate to get free rides today on SEPTA subways, buses, etc., that’s unlikely to be so in the future, he noted. “Seniors ought to obtain the SEPTA Key ID cards in order to prepare for the transition,” he said. “In fact, that is precisely why we are holding these free enrollment events at various locations throughout our region.”

Bucks County: Rep. Galloway’s 10th Senior Expo includes Key card signups State Rep. John Galloway included a SEPTA Key card signup and photo shoot as part of his 10th annual Senior Expo on Sept. 15, at Westaby Hall in Fairless Hills. On hand to help seniors were folks from various government and nonprofit agencies and local businesses. Before or after applying for the free SEPTA Key card, seniors could get their blood pressure or/and pulse taken by health technicians. Exhibitors gave away trinkets. Light refreshments were available. Door prizes were awarded.

======SEPTA’S NEW FARE PAYMENT SYSTEM .

Legislators team up to sign up seniors for free transit rides Sometimes SEPTA Key card signup events are hosted by more than one politician. ► At the Marple Township Building in Delaware County, state Sen. Tom McGarrigle and state representatives Chris Quinn and Bill Adolph joined-up on Sept. 14 to welcome more than 150 seniors and help them apply for SEPTA Key cards. SEPTA customer service reps handled actual sign-up details, confirming age documentation, typing in required data, snapping webcam pictures, etc. Some seniors were told they’d get their cards by U.S. Mail in October. ► On Sept. 8 and 26, a trio of state Reps. Vanessa Lowery Brown, Joanna McClinton and Lynwood Savage jointly hosted two events at the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center on 41st Street near Girard Ave., where many signed up for and had their pictures taken for the new SEPTA Key cards. “It’s great. It’s quick. They come in and leave, making it more convenient for seniors in all legislative areas from Springfield, Marple and Newtown,” Nick Cocco, a McGarrigle aide, told Anne Neborak, a Delaware County Times reporter. “Forty percent who came in never had a card before, Kyle Rice, from Rep. Adolph’s office, told the reporter. “They saw the flyer and came in. Many can’t believe how good of a deal it is.” Any senior who missed this event can go to his or her legislator’s local office and have photos taken and register for a SEPTA Key card, she said. “It made more sense to have it here” than at individual legislative offices in Springfield, Middletown, Marple, Newtown and Media,” Rep. Quinn said. “This is a great program.”

Delaware County: Rep. Davidson hosts Summer Senior Celebration series State Rep. Margo Davidson hosted a series of Summer Senior Celebration events. First one was July 13 at Simpson Gardens in Lansdowne. The second was at Grace Court in Yeadon July 26. A third was at Watkins Community & Center in Upper Darby. The latter, which Grampa and sister Dotty attended, featured exhibits and presentations by a variety of government and non-profit agencies and businesses. Souvenirs, trinkets, beverages, and ice cream were there for the asking Last but not least, SEPTA customer service reps were there snapping seniors’ pictures and typing-in necessary senior SEPTA Key info. “This is a great opportunity for seniors, their family members and caregivers to learn more about programs and services available to them in our community,” Davidson told attendees.

Rep. Marguerite Quinn. Rep. Margo Davidson. Rep. John T. Galloway. Chmn. Dotty Gallagher.

======SEPTA’S NEW FARE PAYMENT SYSTEM .

Photo credits: PATCO; SEPTA; L.A. Metro.

PATCO Freedom card. SEPTA Key card reader. L.A. region’s TAP card.

Seniors were first to use new SEPTA fare collection system Far back as March 2015, about 9,500 seniors rode at least 11,555 times without paying on SEPTA subway and elevated trains by using a Pennsylvania driver license or non-driver photo ID card. This card, when issued to someone age 65 or older, functions as a Pennsylvania Lottery fare-paying card, the same way a new electronic Senior SEPTA Key photo ID fare card will, after seniors who have applied for one get it in the mail later this year. Although by March 2015 few SEPTA employees had been told how the subway-el card readers worked, word somehow circulated in senior citizen circles that they could literally become SEPTA’s first customers to make practical use of the new fare collection system. “It's pretty much been word of mouth,” said SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch. “They've spread the information among themselves and to each other that 'Hey, this is working!’.”

Eventually, SEPTA fares will be paid by tapping cell phone? Next year, almost all SEPTA riders will pay for rides using either a SEPTA Key card or other electronic contactless payment device, including, eventually, a properly-apped cell phone. The contactless SEPTA card can be reloaded with fare value, weekly or monthly pass, etc., either online via the Internet, or at fare kiosks in SEPTA subway-el stations and transportation centers. As usual where such fare cards are used, they can be registered to guard against loss or theft.

New fare collection system involves much new hardware Estimated to cost at least $140.6-million, SEPTA’s new fare collection system includes: ► 1,850 rectangular reddish color plastic framed fare payment validators, i.e., fare card readers, resembling children’s Etch-A-Sketch pads. ► 350 fare card and fare pass vending machines, about the same size as the old token venders, currently marked “TESTING TESTING,” at subway-el stations and at SEPTA transportation centers. ► At least 650 subway-el station and SEPTA Regional Railroad turnstiles. ► 550 platform validators, i.e.., card readers, at subway-el, light rail and railroad stations. ► 480 handheld fare card reading devices.

======PHILADELPHIA’S FARE PAYMENT HISTORY .

History of Philadelphia transit system fares, tokens, transfers 1685 -- Philip England begins ferry service on Schuylkill River, between High, now Market, Street and new roads to Darby in Delaware County and Merion in Montgomery County. June 1712 – Benjamin Chambers’ ferry, later George Gray’s Ferry, across Schuylkill. **** Dec. 1831 – James Boxall's omnibus, called Boxall's Accommodation, pulled by two horses, runs hourly between Merchants' Coffee House, 84 S. 2nd St., and the line’s end at what’s now 16th Street. Fare: 10¢. Dozen one ride tickets: $1. No transfers. ++ April 23, 1834 – Delaware & Schuylkill Railroad’s horse-drawn cars carry passengers from 3rd & Willow streets depot, near the Delaware River, west to Broad St., to Pennsylvania Ave., to Peters’ Island peninsula on the Schuylkill River. Here, riders connect with Columbia & Pennsylvania Railroad trains. * Sept. 15, 1837 – Omnibus operated by John Smith makes two roundtrips daily between Pennsylvania Hotel at 6th & Market streets and town of Darby in Delaware County. ++ Sept. 11, 1837 – Fare tokens used on 6th & 8th Street and Vine Street omnibus lines, says Public Ledger. Jan. 20, 1858 -- First streetcars in the city that run on steel rails, pulled by horses, on Frankford and Southwark lines of Philadelphia City Passenger Railway Company. +++ June 20, 1882 – Lombard & South Streets, and Spruce & Pine streets tracked passenger railways, each charging 5¢ per ride, begin charging 6¢ for a ride over both lines. Feb. 1, 1885 – Philadelphia Traction Co., founded 1883, raises fare to 7¢; 4 one-ride tickets 25¢. ***. Feb. 25, 1887 – Philadelphia Traction Co. announces that on April 1 fare will be 5¢, with some transfers 2¢ and others free. *** Instead, on March 1, it introduces 5¢ fare and makes all transfers free. * March 4, 1887 – People's Passenger Railway Co. cuts fare to 5¢. *** March 7, 1887 – Philadelphia Traction Co. charges 7¢ for transfer to/from all railway cars, except those of its own, and Ridge Avenue and People's passenger railways. *** Aug. 15, 1892 – Philadelphia Traction Co. first electric streetcar, Catharine & Bainbridge streets. *** Dec. 9, 1894 – People's Traction and Electric Traction Co. offer free transfers where they intersect. * Oct. 6, 1895 – Three main systems combine: Philadelphia Traction Co., People's Traction Co. and Electric Traction Co. Numerous smaller privately owned car lines still remain. *** Oct. 16, 1895 – Union Traction Co. stops issuing free transfers, charges 5¢ per ride, and 8¢ for an exchange ticket, i.e., merely a higher priced transfer. * May 1, 1902 – Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co. incorporates, absorbs many companies. Fare 5¢, 6 for 25¢. ♥ Dec. 13, 1919 – City Council and PRT agree: in return for not paying the city $785,000 a year for street paving, PRT will abolish its 3¢ charge for exchange tickets, with a few exceptions. ** Aug. 13, 1921 – PRT and city agree transfers will be free between new Frankford elevated railway and intersecting surface bus and electric streetcar lines. ** Jan. 21, 1922 – PRT fare rises to 7¢, two one-ride tokens for 15¢, with free transfers. This fare remains thru Grampa’s boyhood and thru World War II. Frankford portion of Market-Frankford subway-elevated railway line opens in 1922, with free transfer to/from all connecting lines. ** June 8, 1929 – Evening Public Ledger newspaper reports PRT plans to raise fares and abandon paper transfers. These had existed since at least 1907, story says. Jan. 1, 1940 – Following PRT bankruptcy in 1939, Philadelphia Transportation Co. becomes the regional SEPTA transit system. Among its first considerations: eliminate paper transfers. ♥ Aug. 1, 2007 – SEPTA announces it will abolish transfers Oct.1. Instead, a state court prohibits this. July 1, 2010 -- SEPTA raises transfer price to $1, from 75¢ July 1, 2013 – SEPTA cash fare for bus, trackless trolley, subway, and trolley service is now $2.25. Transfer costs $1. Additional transfer costs another $1. Only two transfers allowed per one-way trip. July 1, 2017 – All SEPTA transfers now made via new SEPTA Key fare system.

**** Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801, Volume 2, pp 427-429. +++ Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia: “Streetcars” chapter, by John Hepp. ++ Philadelphia Encyclopedia; Sellers Library, Upper Darby PA. * Early Railroad Transportation at USHistory.org; Independence Hall Assn., Philadelphia, Pa. ♥ Philadelphia Rapid Transit scrapbooks at Historical Society of Pennsylvania. ** Electric Railway Journal for these dates. *** Philadelphia History, USHistory.org

======SEPTA’S NEW FARE PAYMENT SYSTEM .

Pittsburgh area: no senior version. Sacramento area: coming soon. Calgary: not coming ever?

Pittsburgh area’s Connect Card is ‘a tale of three cities’ At least three big transit systems named its smart fare card Connect Card: ● Allegheny County Port Authority Transit in Pittsburgh and its environs. A highly successful contactless smart fare card, it is used on buses, streetcars and subway trains. There is no senior version. Instead, seniors age 65 and above show a PennDOT yellow or blue non-photo ID card to get “free” rides paid for by funds from the Pennsylvania Lottery. Cards are issued at the Port Authority Transit service center in downtown Pittsburgh and at various senior centers, as well as by other public transit systems throughout the state. Pittsburgh area transit bus drivers usually also accept as okay ID a valid Medicare card. Occasionally, one asks for additional evidence of age. Feel flattered if this occurs. ● Nine transit systems in the Sacramento area, including: E Tran, El Dorado Transit, Folsom Stage Line, Placer County Transit, Roseville Transit, Sacramento Regional Transit, South County Transit Link, YoloBus, and Yuba-Sutter Transit. Slated for introduction next year, it’s already being used by a limited number of paying riders. A senior version is available. Qualifying seniors can go to any participating transit agency service center and exchange his or her current transit-issued photo ID card for a discount fare Connect Card containing its owner’s your name and photo. ● Calgary Transit, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, began installing a Connect Card system, but after three failed attempts at introduction in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and after suffering many various woes, is scrapping all it and has decided to sue its Spanish contractor for at least $5-million.

Pennsylvania senior citizen public transit ID fare cards and SEPTA paper train tickets and metal tokens such as these will be replaced by electronic fare cards. These cards still will be accepted by other public transit systems throughout the state.

Old joke: 1st prize: a week in Philly; Consolation prize: 2 weeks in Philly For readers who expect to never visit the Philadelphia area, no apology for this issue being mostly about the new Senior SEPTA fare card. From time to time, we do focus on one theme. Our second issue, April 2008, was 10 pages all about the then-new Seniors Ride Free program in the State of Illinois.

======SEPTA’S NEW FARE PAYMENT SYSTEM .

Illustrations credit: Area Transportation Authority of Central Pennsylvania.

Left: Flyer promoting ATA free photo and free ATA senor fare card application. Center: Blow-up of fare card pictured on the flyer. Right: ATA Clarion Area Transit (CAT) Clarion Mall-Wal Mart loop route bus.

Rural transit system issues free photo ID cards to senior riders SEPTA isn’t the first Pennsylvania transit system to offer photo ID fare cards to folks age 65 and above. ATA, (Area Transportation Authority of Central Pennsylvania) presently issues, free of charge, its own photo ID card allowing free and reduced fare rides. Its bus drivers also accept other valid senior IDs, including the Senior Citizen Lottery Funded Transit card recognized by most transit systems in the state. Headquartered in Johnsonburg, in Elk County, ATA vehicles serve riders in Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter counties. It also operates CAT (Clarion Area Transit) in Clarion County. The state’s oldest regional rural transportation authority, ATA celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. It was chartered as a public authority in 1976.

Jefferson County seniors also ride free on shared-ride transit Since March 22, the Jefferson County Area Agency on Aging, based in Brookville, Pa., provides county seniors age 65 and older free rides on shared-ride vehicles. Although all ATA fixed bus routes in Jefferson County are free fare to qualified seniors, ATA provides other transit services at an 85% discount to seniors. Under an agreement with ATA, the JCAAA pays the other 15%,. “We want to encourage seniors to expand their mobility and their access to these ATA trips and to visit our four Social Centers. It’s now free, and worry free, and an even better deal for our clients age 65 and older,” says Molly McNutt, JCAAA deputy director. Trips must be for valid medical, dental, hospital, pharmacy visits, or to/from one of JCAAA’s four senior centers.

Philly’s smart fare card’s full implementation ‘next year’ Philadelphia’s new “contactless” fare collection system has been “coming next year’ since at least 2008, when SEPTA first issued a request from potential suppliers for proposals. In 2011, a contract with Xerox Corp. subsidiary ACS Transportation Solutions Group was signed. Since then, there have been several “false starts” while the transit system and ACS have endeavored to “get it right.”

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