SEPTA to phase out token sales on subway lines

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in mid-January will begin phasing out the sale of tokens at cashiers' booths and vending machines in Market-Frankford and Broad Street Line subway stations.

With token sales declining as riders move to the reloadable "Key" card fare payment system, about half of station vending machines on the lines have been removed. During a six-week period, SEPTA will remove the 40 remaining token machines from the lines, with token sales at all these locations expected to end in March.

The phase-out of token sales marks the next major step for SEPTA's Key fare modernization project, agency officials said in a press release. Earlier this year, SEPTA ended sales of its legacy magnetic strip TransPasses at its sales offices.

That move has resulted in most weekly and monthly TransPass customers moving to the reloadable SEPTA Key Cards, according to the agency.

Until further notice, the agency will continue selling tokens at all its major sales offices, commuter-rail stations and more than 200 third-arty retailers.

In February, SEPTA began rolling out the Key card fare payment system to all riders following a months-long pilot program.