Philadelphia bus riders face significant changes starting Sunday, August 23, as SEPTA launches the first phase of its new bus network.
Seven routes will be eliminated and two new ones introduced, with adjustments touching roughly 30 routes in total. Check your route before you board.
The overhaul is the transit authority’s first comprehensive review of its bus system in its entire six-decade history.
As CBS Philadelphia reported, the initiative was previously known as the “Bus Revolution” before being rebranded as the “New Bus Network.” The goal is a more efficient, reliable, and navigable system.
Which Routes Are Being Eliminated
According to CBS Philadelphia, routes 35, 47M, 62, 78, 80, 89, and 106 will be discontinued beginning Sunday.
Six other routes will see reduced service rather than full elimination. Route 4 and Route 32 will both operate with fewer trips.
Route 17 will no longer serve Packer Park, NRG Station, or the Navy Yard. South Philadelphia coverage disappears from Route 49, and Route 52 will no longer reach Gladwyne.
Route 73 loses its overnight Owl service.
What’s New in the Network
Two new routes are being introduced. Route 72 will link the Frankford Transit Center and Cedarbrook Plaza via Chelten Avenue.
SEPTA also confirmed six route extensions as part of this first phase, though specific extension details were not fully outlined in initial announcements.
This article on northeasttimes.com has more context on the broader scope of Sunday’s rollout: SEPTA Launches First Phase of Bus Network Redesign This Weekend, Affecting 30 Philadelphia Routes.
Why Sunday’s Date Matters
WPVI reported that SEPTA timed the launch one day before Philadelphia schools reopen.
Katie Monroe, SEPTA’s director of customer information, told 6abc that the agency routinely makes service adjustments around the start of the school year.
Monroe said 13,000 new permanent signs are being installed across the system to help riders navigate the changes.
Most of the roughly 30 affected routes change Sunday, she added, with a smaller number shifting on Monday.
That’s a lot of moving parts.
Monroe urged riders to treat this weekend as a critical check-in moment, noting that SEPTA has never before conducted such a thorough review of all its bus routes to assess whether they match ridership demand and run as efficiently as possible.
How Riders Can Prepare
SEPTA is directing riders to its updated trip planner, available on its website and mobile app, ahead of Sunday’s changes.
Updated information is also posted at bus stops, listing current destinations for each route.
What Comes Next
Sunday’s launch covers only the first phase of the redesign. More is coming. According to 6abc, a second phase is scheduled for February 2027, with a third phase planned for June of that year.