SEPTA Fare Hike Likely

SEPTA is likely to hike fares next year, but don't blame it on the strike.

"It is not specifically the result of this new contract," SEPTA spokeswoman Jerri Williams said.

The transit authority already had a 9.5 percent increase in "passenger revenue" built into its budget for the next fiscal year. Most of the time, raising the amount of money you get from riders comes from fare hikes.

"If there is a fare increase, we don't know how much it will be," Williams told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Right now SEPTA riders pay $2 cash or $1.50 for a token for the base fare. A 10-percent increase would raise those costs to $2.20 and $1.65.

Before a fare hike took effect, SEPTA would have to do two key things -- hold public hearing and get approval from its board.

Grab those free tokens while you can!

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