Transit Forward Philadelphia

This summer, Transit Forward Philadelphia partnered with Jalyn Smith and Sydney Wieczkowski to research transit equity in Philly. Check out their projects below:

By Jalyn Smith

My name is Jalyn Smith, and I am a Master of Public Health student concentrating in Health Management and Policy at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health. Through this project with Transit Forward Philadelphia, I explored how transportation, neighborhood conditions, and environmental factors intersect with public health and health equity. The experience strengthened my understanding of how transportation decisions can shape access to essential resources and reinforced the importance of using clear, accessible data to support healthier and more equitable communities.

On July 28th and 29th, 2026 Transit Forward Philly took 29 separate transit segments on every mode! (L, B, G, T, D, M, regional rail, and lots of buses!), included 17 elected officials and offices on transit from 3 political parties at all levels of government, walked over 27,000 steps, and engaged more than 100 participants over 24 hours on transit! 

We interviewed transit riders, community advocates, and elected leaders working for safe, accessible, affordable, and fully funded transit. 

Thanks to you, we flooded media networks with our unified message: Fund SEPTA, pass a Transit Access Fund and keep Philly moving!

• Transit riders protest SEPTA cuts with 24-hour ride across Philadelphia (NE Times)

• Transit advocates ride SEPTA for 24 hours to push for permanent funding (NBC 10)

• Philadelphians are riding SEPTA 24 hours straight hoping to improve it (Billy Penn)

• Advocates ride SEPTA for 24 hours straight to stress the need for transit funding (KYW)

View the Map

The T1 trolley line connects West Philadelphia and Center City. SEPTA’s modernization efforts of this line will improve accessibility, safety, and other issues the line currently faces. Currently, “the trolley shares a lane with cars and makes stops in the middle of the street to pick up riders”, SEPTA notes. The modernization efforts, which are in their “Alternatives Development and Evaluation” planning phase, are set to begin design in 2036. Set to finish in 2041, the efforts will make the T1 more accessible, fast, easy, safe, reliable, and beneficial to the communities that ride it.

The T1 line’s 63rd-Malvern station, located in the Overbrook neighborhood of West Philadelphia, is the trolley’s western terminus loop. It is the trolley stop most near Saint Joseph University’s campus, offering students a public transportation option in addition to the Paoli/Thordale’s commuter train at Overbrook Station.

Sophia Bertsch is a senior at Saint Joseph's University 

Shifan Du is a Master of Public Administration student at the Fels Institute of Government. She spent her semester at Transit Forward Philadelphia working on a project exploring affordable transit options for college students in the Philly region. She created a calculator that compares the costs and benefits of taking SEPTA, driving, or rideshare to common destinations for students. It shows the impact of adopting SEPTA's UPass  program in providing affordable transit options for students to get to class and opportunities across the city.



In her report, Shifan shared, "transportation is an important part of college affordability because students need reliable and affordable ways to reach class, work, internships, and other daily activities. This capstone project examines whether the SEPTA Key Advantage UPass program could provide greater value to college students in Philadelphia. Using a model of 100 school-to-destination routes, the analysis compares private driving, Uber/Lyft, Wait & Save, SEPTA Bus/Metro, and SEPTA Regional Rail. The results show that UPass can meaningfully reduce student transportation costs, especially on Regional Rail trips, where the financial value is strongest. Although SEPTA trips may take longer than some other travel options, UPass can make regular transit use much more affordable for students. The project also includes an interactive Shiny app that allows users to explore route costs, travel times, and potential UPass savings. Overall, the findings suggest that more Philadelphia colleges and universities should consider UPass as a practical way to support student transportation access and affordability."

Access the calculator

Halfway through 2026, Transit Forward Philadelphia's Transit Fellows are proving what community-rooted organizing looks like in practice. Representing Northeast Philadelphia, Kensington, North Philly, Southwest Philly, and beyond, our fellows were brought on this year to build relationships in neighborhoods that are among the most vulnerable to potential transit cuts — and to amplify rider voices in the fight for a transit system that's safe, reliable, accessible, and fully funded. A recent round of reflections from the fellows shows just how much ground they've covered, and how much they've grown along the way.

The PA State Budget is due today, and transit riders are taking action! 🚌

Today, transit advocates, community leaders, and elected officials gathered near Independence Mall with one message: Pennsylvania needs to fund transit in the 2026–2027 state budget!

Nearly 1 million people across the Commonwealth – in every county, in every corner of PA – rely on transit every single day. It connects people to jobs, school, healthcare, and each other.

We saw what's possible at the recently renovated 5th & Market El stop, now accessible with new elevators and ramps for riders with disabilities, strollers, market carts, and bikes. That's the kind of infrastructure investment we need at bus, train, and trolley stops across the state.

PA's budget is due Wednesday, July 1. With new state revenue available, we need dedicated, sustainable funding now!

Philly deserves transit that is safe and accessible for everyone! 🚌♿️

Transit Forward Philadelphia has developed a Transit Accessibility and Safety form to document the conditions of transit stops across Philly. We plan to document conditions at the stops and deliver a report to decision makers to build a safer and more  equitable transit system. Get involved by joining an audit or using the resources below to plan one in your community.

Get involved:

• Audit your transit stop form

• How to audit your transit stop guide
  
  
• Transit audit events
  
  
• More information on the transit stop audit initiative
  
  

100+ Transit Riders, Workers, and Politicians Call for Transit Funding Solution at Harrisburg Day of Action

On June 3rd, Transit Forward Philly coalition members packed a Keystone line train and headed to Harrisburg to fight for the transit that Philly and all PA communities deserve.

We joined 100+ transit riders, transit workers, and neighbors from rural, small-town, and urban communities joined together with legislators to call for a solution to the shared-ride and paratransit funding crisis.

Across all 67 counties, millions of older adults and people with disabilities rely on this door-to-door service to reach jobs, medical appointments, groceries, and the community. This form of public transportation is particularly vital in rural and aging communities, where alternative mobility options, including fixed route transit, are limited or nonexistent.

Advocates, families, and community organizations are raising serious concerns regarding the implementation of a fare evasion enforcement program by the School District of Philadelphia (SDP).

While the program is being presented as an effort to address revenue losses related to fare nonpayment and SEPTA Key card “swipes,” this proposal risks pulling young people into the criminal justice system rather than addressing the root causes that lead students to bypass fares in the first place.

Earlier this year, our coalition called for expanding access for student fare cards to include evenings, weekends, and summer for Philly students.

Every day, nearly 100,000 Philly students in grades 7-12 travel to and from school. Student fare cards are only valid from 5:30am-8:00pm on days when school is in session. Fare cards do not work on the weekends or over the summer when students need access to jobs and other opportunities. Students are only eligible for the cards if they live more than 1.5 miles from their campus - leaving out more than 30,000 secondary students in Philadelphia.

“At a time when school districts across the country are struggling with chronic absenteeism and barriers to student attendance, it is deeply troubling to create a system that punishes students simply for trying to get to school,” said Stephen Bronskill, Coalition Manager for Transit Forward Philly. “Transportation is not a luxury for many young people, it is a necessity to reach school, part time jobs, and activities.”

Councilmember At-Large Landau shared the following response to the SDP decision: “Last month, I passed a resolution calling for a City Council hearing on the need for universal student fares in Philadelphia. In our city, we should be expanding access for young people in Philly to reach jobs, opportunities, and programs that will help them build their futures, not criminalizing them while they're taking public transportation. I look forward to holding this hearing and bringing experts together to discuss real solutions to the student fare access gap.”

Advocates warn that increased enforcement measures, citations, and police involvement could disproportionately impact low-income students, Black and Latino youth, and students already facing instability at home. Rather than investing in supportive solutions, the program risks criminalizing poverty and placing additional burdens on families already navigating economic hardship.

Community members are also questioning the broader policy disconnect between the District’s stated goals of increasing attendance and educational access while simultaneously supporting enforcement systems that may deter students from using public transportation altogether.

Jerrett Johnson Lead Transit Organizer for 5th Square Advocacy stated the following: “This procedure would put students behind the eight ball in life which we are setting them up for failure instead of success…in my opinion, this program would not help students because the passes would still work only on school days but with someone checking every move.”

Alex Milone Transit Committee Co-chair at 5th Square Advocacy stated the following: “If we truly want our students in classrooms and participating in extracurricular activities, we must create systems that help them get there safely and consistently…the answer cannot just be surveillance, fines, or court involvement for young people who may not have the resources to pay for transportation.”

Advocates are calling on the School District and transit officials to pursue alternative solutions centered on student support, including expanded transit access programs, improved outreach to families, fare assistance initiatives, and restorative approaches that do not expose youth to criminal penalties.

Additionally, advocates recommend the school district reach out to students and families over the summer to communicate these changes and solicit further feedback. Furthermore, this is an opportunity for the school district to reform and expand access to the current student fare system. 

Transit Forward Philadelphia, 5th Square Advocacy, Clean Air Council, SEPTA Youth Advisory Council, Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia 

This week, transit advocates joined Mayor Parker, members of the Philadelphia City Council, and the Philadelphia Parking Authority in celebrating the opening of Philadelphia’s new intercity bus terminal at 1001 Filbert Street.

After Greyhound closed its terminal at the same location in 2023, Philadelphia intercity bus riders faced major challenges. The temporary terminal on Spring Garden street lacked shelter from the rain, heat, and snow and had limited access to restrooms. Additionally, the Spring Garden site featured a single, segregated wheelchair pickup location and the nearby L station lacks an elevator,  making access to intercity bus service for bus riders with disabilities nearly impossible.

We welcome the new fully ADA compliant station which provides 24/7 access to bus passengers. It also has amenities like bathrooms with changing stations, vending machines, a lactation pod, and space for a potential future small cafe. The facility has 11 bus bays with 20 bus carriers signed on to provide service to Philadelphians. 

According to Transit Forward Philly coalition partner,  Disabled in Action member, and Liberty Resources staff member Lauren Alden, “Access to affordable public transit ensures that individuals with disabilities are integrated into the community and not segregated and/or restricted in our ability to live a meaningful life. Nearly 250,000 Philadelphians are disabled, and it goes without question that accessibility at any of our city’s public transportation sites should be prioritized.”

Transit Forward Philly and coalition partners have advocated for years for dignity for intercity bus riders by handing out water on hot days, amplifying the voices of transit riders at City Council meetings, and conducting an accessibility audit. Recently, Transit Forward Philadelphia members shared public comment in support of City Council Transportation and Utilities Committee Chair Mike Driscoll’s Bill No. 26026500. Advocates also joined city leaders at the bill signing authorizing the new terminal.

The Nation magazine recently featured TFP member and Philadelphia disability advocate, Nico Meyering regarding the fight for intercity bus riders in Philly. In the story, Nico shared, “If we are not able to move about the nation as our needs dictate, then our freedom is limited. We don’t have true freedom.”

We join the city in celebrating the bus terminal’s opening  in time for Philly to host the FIFA World Cup, MLB All Star Game, and America’s 250th anniversary. But even more importantly, this new facility brings dignity to Philadelphians looking for an affordable ride to visit family or travel to work in nearby cities and students traveling  home from school. 

Transit Forward Philly looks forward to continuing our advocacy for better intercity bus service and dignity for bus riders in Philadelphia. We are eager to hear your thoughts about the new bus terminal.