SEPTA reinstates parking fees, launches new digital payment parking app

SEPTA riders now have to pay to park

After four years, SEPTA has reinstated pay to park for riders across different stations. FOX 29's Greg Payne has the details.

PHILADELPHIA - Like clockwork, the SEPTA trains constantly come and go, picking up riders and commuting them to and from the city.

One thing that hasn’t been operating like usual, the parking system, which for the last few years it’s been in favor of the riders.

"I’ve been taking the train for the past four years and it’s been free for the last four years, that’s been pretty awesome," said SEPTA rider Gabrielle Thompson of Doylestown.

That’s changing, as riders will now have to begin paying up again to park on SEPTA owned surface lots, starting with riders who park at Fern Rock Transportation Center, Glenside Station, Elkins Park Station and Jenkintown-Wyncote Station.

On top of now having to pay, the parking fee has also doubled in price to $2.

"Just don’t want to pay, I’ll park on the street maybe but I’ll pay it’s fine, it’s a bummer that it’s doubled," said SEPTA rider Julie Kelly of Ambler.

The increase, SEPTA claims, will help offset parking lot maintenance costs. Parking at surface lots will remain free on the weekends and on major holidays.

Riders will have an option to either pay through a station kiosk, text to pay, or via a new app.

SEPTA, in partnership with tech company Flowbird, will launch a new parking app that promises to provide commuters and visitors an easier way to pay for parking.

The SEPTA Park app will allow users to pay for parking from their phone, extend parking time remotely, and receive reminders about when their parking will expire.

SEPTA said the app can be used at their 80+ lots – a total of 25,000 parking spaces – and "aims to make parking more convenient and efficient" for daily commuters.

Users can use their phones' location to find parking lots and garages within the app. Those who already have a Flowbird account can use their credentials to login.

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"We are excited to contribute to a more sustainable and efficient daily commute in the Philadelphia region," Flowbird President Benoit Reliquet said in a release.

The app – touted as a "significant upgrade to SEPTA's parking infrastructure – will also allow users the option to Pay-by-Text, using a web-based payment method.

Users can send a text to the number displayed on the pay station or parking sign near their parking location, and receive a secure link that can be used for payment.

The app launch will also see 180 solar-powered Flowbird parking kiosks that accept all forms of payment, including coins, cards and contactless payments.

SEPTA vehicles will be driving around the lots checking to make sure drivers are paying and parking their vehicles with the license plates facing out.

SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch says the free parking was mainly to attract riders back after the pandemic, but now ridership is close to pre-pandemic levels.

"Offering that free parking for a couple of years made sense, but we do have costs associated with maintaining those lots. We are also doing everything that we can to raise revenue. We do want to make sure SEPTA is affordable for riders but we are in a budget crunch," said Busch.

Busch says they are facing a budget shortfall of nearly 240 million dollars a year and are working with leaders in Harrisburg for financial support.

"Parking certainly isn’t going to fill that, but we are doing a number of things to try to cut cost and raise revenues," said Busch.

Over the next few weeks, the parking fee will be reinstated in phases at stations across the region.

The revenue raising measure is leaving many with mixed feelings.

"I think it’s time, it is very annoying because there hasn’t but much we’ve gained since we’ve come back to work. There’s less trains, trains are more infrequent, less conductors on the trains so, you have to rush to try to get to whatever door is open. So, it’s kind of annoying because we are not really gaining anything but I do understand," said SEPTA rider Stacy Shrieves of Wyncote.

"I’m okay with it, I think SEPTA has lost a lot of revenue and everybody’s got to eat so, it is what it is," said SEPTA rider Angela Berntson of Glenside.

"I understand we need to pay our workers and do like maintenance so, I understand it’s a little bit annoying but it’s okay, it works," said Thompson.

SEPTA says they are going to issue warnings for drivers who don’t park and pay, before they start punishing violators.

Parking will still be free on weekends and major holidays.

Prices will also be doubling for those who park in SEPTA garages. They’ll now have to pay $4.