Philadelphia Moves to Improve Paratransit Services

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s partnership with a technology provider will boost the system’s paratransit and microtransit services to improve access and accessibility.

1 minute read

October 11, 2023, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Close-up of SEPTA logo in white letters on red line at top of SEPTA bus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Luis G. Vergara / Adobe Stock

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) “is partnering with RideCo to adapt the agency's paratransit and microtransit services,” reports Mass Transit Magazine, creating the nation’s largest on-demand transit system.

According to Prem Gururajan, co-founder and CEO at RideCo, “Through this partnership, SEPTA will completely change how they operate their paratransit services; utilizing industry-leading technology to offer a convenient rider-app, more timely service, become more efficient, productive and thus save cost.”

The move is part of SEPTA’s Bus Revolution, a plan to redesign its bus network to better serve the needs of all riders. “Through SEPTA’s implementation of a large-scale on-demand transit system, agencies across the country will have a preeminent example for how both modernized paratransit and microtransit services can increase mobility within their own communities.”

SEPTA’s paratransit fleet includes 411 vehicles, and the agency plans to add a 48-vehicle microtransit fleet.

Wednesday, October 4, 2023 in Mass Transit

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