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The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has proposed a fiscal-year 2014 operating budget that includes a range of fare increases and other steps aimed at implementing a modernized fare system.

Under the proposal, SEPTA would increase fares on July 1, agency officials said in a prepared statement.

Public hearings on the fare proposal will be held starting next month in each of the five counties in which SEPTA operates.

The last fare increase was implemented in 2010. The new fare hikes would vary depending on the service. For example, the city transit division would increase the cash fare for subways, trolleys and buses from $2 to $2.25 on July 1, and then to $2.50 when the switch is made to the New Payment Technology (NPT) fare system in 2014.

SEPTA has a policy of increasing fares every three years. Also, as part of the effort to simplify fares and introduce an open fare payment and collection system under the NPT program, extra-fare zone charges would be eliminated on dozens of transit routes. In addition, some regional rail zones would be consolidated.