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!

Ideas are great when you aren't the one that has to find the money for it.

Instead of bitching at SEPTA, bitch at your state reps to get SEPTA more money for capital projects.

For record, SEPTA is regarded as one of the better run transit companies in the country.

They are just always seriously underfunded.

As pointed out with the San Fran trollies, money does wonders.

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I am reminded of the article in last year's PW (or was it Citypaper?) about 50 free things SEPTA could do to improve itself...

...Not all ideas take money. They do take creativity. But they get people to ride public transportation which in turn brings in more money and saves the entire city money and the environment in the long run.

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Resident of Fishtown, Moderator of Fish/No. Libs/Kenzo forum, Real Estate Agent-Prudential Fox & Roach

SEPTA Day Pass
Not everywhere you would like them to be sold sells them but for $5.50 you can get a days worth of unlimited bus/subway/trolley rides plus a one way ride on a Regional Rail line.

The idea was for tourists coming from the airport but it works for locals too.

Also if you are traveling out to the the likes of King Of Prussia you don't get dinged for multiple zone fares.
http://www.septa.com/fares/sales_locations.html