PATCO: Discount to end; special fares for papal visit

There was good news and bad news Wednesday for PATCO commuters who transfer to SEPTA buses and subways: PATCO's fare card will work on SEPTA's new smart-card system, but the current 50-cent discount for transfers will go away.

And PATCO managers unveiled their plan for special fares to accommodate an expected 200,000 riders during Pope Francis' two-day visit to Philadelphia in September.

PATCO's electronic Freedom card will be compatible with SEPTA's new Key fare system once the SEPTA system is operational on subways and buses later this year. SEPTA fare instruments won't work on PATCO trains.

The current discount PATCO riders get when they purchase paper transfers to use on SEPTA vehicles will be eliminated with the advent of the SEPTA fare system, as paper transfers will no longer be available, PATCO general manager John Rink said Wednesday.

About 800 PATCO riders a day currently purchase paper transfers, which provide a 50-cent discount on a SEPTA round trip ($3.10 instead of $3.60), Rink said. About 2,000 other riders switch to SEPTA each day without using the discounted transfers.

A PATCO board committee on Wednesday authorized PATCO managers to negotiate the interoperability deal with SEPTA; the full board is expected to approve the arrangement June 17.

PATCO expects a crush of riders when Francis visits Philadelphia on Sept. 26 and 27, and the board committee Wednesday approved a special fare plan for those two days.

PATCO will sell a one-day pass for $5 and a two-day pass for $10, beginning in mid-July.

The passes will only be available on PATCO's electronic Freedom cards. (PATCO will waive the usual $5 charge for a card.) PATCO will not permit the use of its magnetic-strip paper tickets during the two days, in an effort to reduce congestion at turnstiles, Rink said.

Current holders of Freedom cards will be charged a flat $2.50 per one-way ride during those two days, instead of the distance-based fare normally charged.

As many as 100,000 riders a day may use the PATCO system each of the two days, Rink said. On a typical weekday, about 38,000 riders use the system.

The crowds might overwhelm PATCO's ability to handle them, as occurred on Oct. 31, 2008, when riders headed to a World Series victory parade for the Phillies jammed PATCO trains, stations, and parking lots.

"This is the Phillies, Eagles, Sixers, and Flyers having a parade on the same day," said Jeffrey L. Nash, the Camden County freeholder who is vice chairman of the board of the Delaware River Port Authority, PATCO's parent.

"We expect too many people are going to show up," said John T. Hanson, CEO of DRPA. He said additional police and attendants will be at stations and on trains to try to manage the overflow crowds.Information about the special fares will be available at 877-373-6777 or www.ridepatco.org