The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) plans to modernize and replace its aging fare collection system and is currently preparing to procure a new electronic payment system in 2008. SEPTA operates a multi-modal transit system consisting of buses, trolleys, paratransit, light rail, subway and regional rail service. The service area includes the City of Philadelphia and four surrounding counties, and extends into New Jersey and Delaware.

The currently deployed fare payment and collection systems at SEPTA are unique to each mode of transportation with minimal integration between modes. It is SEPTA’s intent to replace its existing fare payment and collection systems with a state-of-the-art, integrated, electronic fare payment, distribution, collection and processing system utilizing currently available best practices of modern technologies in the consumer and fare payment arena capable of interfacing with both bank and non-bank financial clearing systems for transaction settlement. This system has been entitled New Payment Technologies System.

In order to obtain information on how best to design and deploy a state-of-the-art New Payment Technologies System for SEPTA, a Request for Information (RFI) has been issued by SEPTA on March 27, 2008. The RFI solicits written responses from equipment or service suppliers, systems integrators, financial institutions, consumer payment systems suppliers or other entities that have provided vending and/or payment systems. Responses are sought from interested entities on or prior to May 7, 2008. SEPTA encourages interested entities to submit responses to all or parts of the RFI even if there is not a current intention of responding to a future RFP.

Download the following documents:

• Cover Letter (15Kb)
• RFI Information Sheet (18Kb)
• RFI Requirements and Instructions to Respondents (78Kb) 
• RFI Vendor Bulletin No. 1 (24Kb)
• RFI Vendor Bulletin No. 2 (134Kb)
• Respondent Questions and SEPTA Answers (36Kb)

Overview of the Process