Programs that make public transit more affordable to Philadelphia residents and workers could receive permanent support from the city under an updated proposal introduced Thursday in City Council.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The legislation, initially proposed by\u00a0Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke (Working Families Party-At-Large) in April 2025<\/a>, would set aside 0.5% of the city’s General Fund for a transit access programs. That money would be used to support the Zero Fare, Key Advantage and Key Partner programs. It also would require the city’s managing director or another designated office to submit an annual Transit Access Plan with the yearly operating budget.\u00a0<\/p>\n MORE:\u00a0Cellphones to be banned in Pennsylvania schools from ‘bell to bell’ next school year<\/a><\/p>\n Zero Fare is an experimental city program that offers free SEPTA fares to residents living at or below the poverty level. SEPTA’s Key Advantage and Key Partner programs offer discounts to employees at participating employers, including some universities and nonprofits.\u00a0Per the legislation, the Transit Access Plan would outline a five-year outlook at improving transit accessibility, including expanding some of those programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n O’Rourke’s office said he hopes to secure the funding in time to be included in the next city budget. Budget negotiations begin next spring.\u00a0<\/p>\n Zero Fare was established during former Mayor Jim Kenney’s second term. Mayor Cherelle Parker initially proposed eliminating funding for the program in her first budget proposal, because it used funds from the COVID-era American Rescue Plan, but she ultimately set funded it after receiving backlash. O’Rourke’s legislation would help make the program a permanently funded fixture.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n