Bryn Mawr becomes 2nd college to join SEPTA's UPass Program

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Full-time students at Bryn Mawr College will be able to ride SEPTA for free this year.

The college is joining SEPTA’s Key Advantage University Pass program and buying all-access passes at an 80% discount, providing them to nearly 1,600 full-time students at no charge. SEPTA Senior Sales Development Specialist Gabrielle Pristera says professors encourage students to use their passes for experiences beyond the walls of the classroom.

“They’re going, ‘Okay students, for homework this week you’re going to go out and we would like you to volunteer at this project, or we’d like you to visit this museum,'” Pristera said.

Swarthmore was the first college to sign up for the program last year . Pristera says 89% of the eligible students used their cards at least once, and more than half of the rides were taken on the weekends.

She says as SEPTA works to rebuild ridership, the transit agency is talking with other colleges and universities, including some city schools, about joining the pass program.

Post-COVID SEPTA ridership is now at 70%.