Penn’s department of Parking & Commuter Services has announced that there will be a significant increase in the discount the University provides to faculty and staff who use public transportation to commute to work. Currently, Penn’s commuter benefit provides a discount of 5% on commuter fares and passes purchased through pre-tax payroll deductions (10% on SEPTA monthly passes).  The University plans to raise the discount on Philadelphia regional passes to 50% with a maximum discount of $105 per month.  The new discount is scheduled to take effect September 1, 2023, coinciding with a system migration to a new program management platform that will offer an enhanced user interface and related support services. This discount will be available for transportation options including SEPTA’s Monthly City TransPass and Monthly Regional TrailPass (does not include SEPTA Key’s Travel Wallet), PATCO, New Jersey Transit, and Amtrak (prepaid 10-pack tickets and Monthly Pass). The Commuter Card, which allows loading pre-tax contributions onto a debit card that can be used to pay for a variety of eligible transit expenses, will continue to be offered with a discount of 5%. The pre-tax deduction of up to $300 per month will still be available, adding additional savings potential to riders.

“Over the years, the University has observed significant changes in the commuting patterns and preferences of faculty and staff, especially in the post-pandemic time period,” said Marie Witt, vice president of the division of business services. “We felt it was an opportune time to revisit the commuter benefit with an eye toward making the utilization of public transportation more affordable and the choice for sustainable transportation options more attractive.”

According to Joe Russo, Senior Director of Business Services, Penn looked at a number of factors, including program participation over time, implications of hybrid work accommodations, and the value of Penn’s commuter benefit relative to other options outside the current program.

“It was important to ensure that the commuter benefit Penn provides takes an inclusive approach to the variety of local and regional transit providers that faculty and staff rely upon for transportation,” said Jack Heuer, senior vice president for human resources. “After careful analysis, we determined that a substantial increase to the current discount was the most effective way to offer more value to program participants while expanding our commitment to sustainable commuting to and from campus,” Heuer explained.

Program participants are not required to make any changes to their selection at this time.  Additional communications, including enrollment guidance and deadlines, will be widely distributed before the September rollout. Webinars and other information are also planned to ease the transition into this exciting new offering.

Increasing the commuter discount is part of a broader Sustainable Transportation Initiative which has most recently included the introduction of electric vehicles to the Penn transit fleet, as well as a new mobile app for accessing Penn Transit’s free and convenient campus transportation network.