July 7: SEPTA to charge parking fees at all owned lots, garages

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WPHL) — Following the Fourth of July weekend, SEPTA is implementing parking fees at all owned surface lots and garages, including 35 additional locations currently charging nothing. On Thursday, SEPTA’s board is expected to finalize the change as part of the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget, with the measure to go into effect on Monday, July 7.

SEPTA suspended parking fees in 2020 to boost ridership post-pandemic. Reinstating fees aligns wit ha $12.3 million Flowbird contract for modern payment systems and is aimed at addressing maintenance costs and budget pressures. The move is part of a broader Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget addressing a projected $213 million recurring deficit.

Stations are likely to fill earlier in the morning, and patrons are urged to arrive early or consider alternatives. SEPTA encourages the use of the SEPTA Park app or text-to-pay/coin-operated slot boxes are being removed.

Ambassadors will be on-site to assist during the transition. Parking enforcement will monitor via license plate readers; unpaid vehicles may receive warnings or citations.

New Parking Rates

Daily-use parking fees

•Surface lots: $2 per day

•Parking garages: $4 per day

Weekend & Holiday Policy

Starting July 7, these same fees will also apply on weekends and major holidays, reversing the current free-parking policy during these periods.

Monthly permit fees remain suspended for now.

Locations Affected

The newly included station across SEPTA’s Regional Rail and Norristown High Speed Line:

•Chestnut Hill East & West: Germantown, Gravers, Sedwick, Stenton, Carpenter, Chelten Ave., Queen Lane, Tupenhocken, Upsal

•Cynwyd Line: Bala Cynwyd, Wynnefield Ave.

•Media-Sharon Hill: Pine Ridge, Providence Road, Scenic Road, Springfield Road

•Fox Chase: Olney

•Norristown High-Speed Line [M]: Ardmore Ave., Ardmore Junction, Bryn Mawr, DeKalb Street, Gulph Mills, Haverford, Matsonford, Randor, Villanova, Wynewood Road

•Manayunk/Norristown: Manayunk

•Warminster: Crestmont

•Wilmington/Newark: Crum Lynne, Curtis Park, Darby, Folcroft, Highland Ave., Sharon Hill

Plus, all existing locations remain in effect.