In NYC they made the Staten Island Ferry completely free (it's fun trip, about 1/2 hour each way). Now with the free transfer system, Staten Island riders can use the Island transit system (bus or train) to the ferry, take the ferry to Manhattan, then get on a bus or subway there as the free transfer and go virtually anywhere in the city for one fare. (which is a refillable card!)

I think heads at SEPTA would explode just trying to contemplate such a setup: "Free what? Ferry where?? One fare, go how far???" BOOM!