SEPTA to reinstate parking fees in phases starting in late September

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- After four years of offering free parking, SEPTA said Tuesday it will reinstate parking fees starting next month.

The fees will be reintroduced in phases starting Sept. 23. The reinstatement schedule is posted at SEPTA.org.

Parking fees were suspended in 2020 to attract customers back to the transit system, SEPTA said.

"We wanted to keep it free as we built up ridership post-pandemic," noted SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch.

The parking fees are:

-Surface Lots (96 SEPTA-owned locations): $2 per day, which is up from the previous cost of $1 per day.

-Garages (3 locations: Frankford Transportation Center, Norristown Transportation Center, and Lansdale Station): $4 per day, which is up from the previous cost of $2 per day.

Parking at surface lots will remain free on weekends and major holidays.

SEPTA said it awarded a $12.3 million contract to Flowbird America to develop a "new, state-of-the-art parking system that will streamline fee collection and improve customer convenience."

SEPTA CEO and General Manager Leslie Richards said the fees will offset parking lot maintenance costs and generate revenue "in the midst of a funding crisis."

"We understand how increasing fees could impact riders, but we hope they will still see public transit as an overall value - saving time and money compared to driving a vehicle," Richards said.

Busch also told Action News that the new fees are expected to bring in an additional $6 million in revenue. The extra cash will go to maintenance as well as help address the transit agency's $240 million budget shortfall.

"It helps with our bottom line. We're offsetting the cost and then adding a little to our bottom line," said Busch.

You will be able to pay for parking fees by using the SEPTA Park app, kiosks, or via text message.

Across the Philadelphia area, people gave Action News mixed responses to the increases.

"If it has to go up, it has to go up," one person noted.

Many said that while they're not thrilled to once again pay to park, all good things must come to an end.

"I'm still going to continue parking here because it's very convenient for me," said Denise Adamson from Mt. Airy.

On the other hand, frequent SEPTA rider Guan Camilo said he's considering driving to work to save the extra $80 a month he'd spend on parking.

"My income is going to be affected by that," said Camilo. "I think it's not the right moment to raise the price."

Others say it's too much to ask with day-to-day expenses on the rise as well.

"So now let's raise this along with everything else that's gone up -- food, gas, everything," said Maureen Lavelle from Northeast Philadelphia.

SEPTA said it will have 'ambassadors' on-site to answer questions.

Parking Enforcement Officers will read license plates using vehicle-mounted cameras, SEPTA said, and violations or warnings will be issued for illegally parked vehicles.

For more, visit SEPTA.org.