SEPTA [1] and NRG Energy [2] last week announced a partnership to bring new services to commuters, reinforcing that they have a choice when it comes to their electricity provider. As part of the agreement, the Broad Street Line station originally known as Pattison Station at the Sports and Entertainment Complex in South Philadelphia will become NRG Station.
The partnership will generate new revenue for SEPTA’s transit operations, while creating an enhanced rider experience. Starting in August, customers who use NRG Station will see new signage, maps and interactive screens. Also newly available at this and other SEPTA stations will be NRG Go portable power packs that people can rent to charge phones and other electronic devices while they travel or attend events at the Sports Complex.
Mike Starck, Vice President and General Manager, NRG Retail East division said “NRG is committed to the community and providing the first-class products and service Philly residents deserve. As Philly’s hometown energy supplier, this partnership will allow NRG to engage with hundreds of thousands of people every year and help power them at home, on their way to and from work, for a night out on the town, or headed to the game. We look forward to working with SEPTA on this exciting project at NRG Station and beyond.”
This partnership is consistent with SEPTA’s mandate to seek alternative sources of revenue. Act 44, a measure passed by state lawmakers in 2007 to provide funding for transportation in Pennsylvania, called on SEPTA and other transit agencies to bolster efforts to generate non-fare box revenues.
The partnership with NRG includes SEPTA’s third major station renaming agreement in recent years. SEPTA General Manager Jeffrey D. Knueppel said the agreement exemplifies the Authority’s commitment to enhancing service while being a good steward of funding generated from fare-paying riders and taxpayers.
SEPTA has worked closely with Intersection on an innovative campaign to bring in additional advertising dollars. Jon Roche, Intersection’s Vice President and General Manager for the Philadelphia region told us “We are thrilled to join NRG and SEPTA to improve the experience of everyone who passes through NRG Station. Intersection’s digital upgrades at NRG Station will give riders important, real-time transit information and NRG and other advertisers new ways to reach customers as they pass through the station on their way to a game, a concert, an event, or on their daily commute.”
SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) is North America’s sixth largest transit system, with a vast network of fixed route services including bus, subway, trolley, trackless trolley, and Regional Rail, as well as ADA paratransit and Shared Ride programs. This network provides service in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties with connections into New Jersey and Delaware. SEPTA is also one of the region’s largest employers, with a workforce of approximately 9,400 employees.