SEPTA Awards Cubic Contract for NextGen Fare Payment

SEPTA has awarded a $211 million contract to Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. for the design, installation, and operation of the agency’s new fare-payment system, “SEPTA Key 2.0”.

“A consistent and modern fare-payment system is fundamental to SEPTA’s success,” said SEPTA Interim General Manager Scott A. Sauer. “It is one of the pillars of our system, along with safety, reliability, and cleanliness. This state-of-good-repair project is necessary to achieve continued ridership growth.”

SEPTA Key 2.0 will provide new functionality including virtual Key Cards; support equity-focused fare policies; and enhance the website, mobile app, and call center. A customer outreach campaign was conducted to help guide the direction of SEPTA Key 2.0.

“We look forward to modernizing Philadelphia’s transit system with fare-collection technology that we have designed and customized for major cities around the world,” said Peter Torrellas, Cubic Transportation Systems president. “As we deploy our technology, we will partner closely with SEPTA to ensure Philadelphia’s transit system is state-of-the-art, providing an enhanced experience for all riders.”

Design and implementation of SEPTA Key 2.0 are expected to begin immediately, with an estimated completion date of 2029.