Philadelphia’s SEPTA released its final proposal for Bus Revolution, the authority’s first-ever comprehensive bus network redesign, following an extensive community engagement effort this spring.

To inform the updated plan, SEPTA worked in close collaboration with Council Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson and other members of City Council to identify neighborhood locations for additional community meetings within four council districts.

The City Council assisted with promoting the meetings to the community. SEPTA held the eight in-person community meetings and held one virtual meeting to facilitate engagement and feedback by the disabled community. The proposal is expected to be considered for a vote by the SEPTA board at its next meeting in May.

SEPTA’s Bus Revolution

The proposed network will offer 30% more frequent routes (buses that come 15 minutes or better between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.), improve access, and deliver a simplified bus network.

Under the new network, more riders will have access to frequent transit and will benefit from faster, more direct bus routes with reliable schedules and better connections to other SEPTA services.

“The new bus network will improve access to our families, friends, healthcare, jobs, education, and places of worship. We have worked closely with City Council and our riders, operators, and stakeholders for more than two years to deliver a plan that will make our bus network more frequent, reliable, and accessible across the entire region,” said SEPTA CEO/GM Leslie S. Richards. “As we work toward implementation, we will continue to listen to our riders and stakeholders to ensure that our network provides equitable access for all.”

Bus Revolution Improvements

The new redesign builds on the extensive work SEPTA has conducted over the past two years to engage residents across the region with more than 200 public meetings, including 152 in-person sessions.

Through these meetings and other outreach efforts, SEPTA reviewed more than 10,000 comments and that feedback was incorporated into revised versions of the plan.

Once the network is approved, SEPTA will launch a comprehensive communications and engagement campaign to educate riders about bus route changes. Portions of the new network will launch in summer 2025 and will continue through fall 2025.