After months of discussion, meetings and planning, SEPTA is set to launch, what officials have said is the “first-ever comprehensive redesign of SEPTA’s bus network in its 63-year history,” this weekend.
Though it won’t happen all at once, on Sunday, the first phase of the New Bus Network initiative will go into effect.
What is the New Bus Network?
Originally called a “bus revolution,” this effort was approved by the transit provider’s board in May of 2024.
Over three years, officials said, SEPTA conducted 150 in-person events, 40 virtual meetings and 10 public hearings to generate feedback from over 20,000 residents to create this initiative.
However, officials said, SEPTA made “some adjustments” to the plan over the past two years, though the intent remains to make the bus network easier to use and more efficient, with reduced wait times for riders and improved overall reliability across the system.
Along with these improvements, officials said some bus routes that are redundant with existing services and have low usage would be eliminated.
Phase 1 launches Sunday and SEPTA officials said the first steps would be focused on routes covering South Philadelphia, Kensington/Juniata, the Cheltenham and Lancaster Avenue corridors, and Roxborough.
Phase 1 includes:
New Routes 72 and 76, and extensions of Routes 45, 53, 60, 61, 79, 105
Frequency improvements on Routes 6, 46, 47, 49, 57, and 64
Improved Alignments for Routes 25, 57, 49, 64, 105
Reduced service on Routes 4, 32, 39, 54, and 73
Eliminated low-ridership and inefficient patterns on Routes 17, 44, 52
Eliminated low ridership/duplicative service in Routes 35, 47M, 62, 78, 80, 89, 106
Earlier this month, in a celebration at the Navy Yard, SEPTA and municipal officials — joined by the Phillie Phanatic — launched the revamped Route 45 service.
Officials said Phase 2 would follow in February 2027 and Phase 3 in June 2027.