Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) joined local officials, dignitaries and community members last week to celebrate the completion of construction at the newly renovated Cheltenham & Ogontz Bus Loop.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official reopening for the loop, which has been fully overhauled thanks to an eight-month, $3.4 million project. The result is a safer, customer friendly transit hub at the center of a bustling community.

The loop serves over 5,000 SEPTA riders a day on bus routes 6, 22, 80, C, XH and H. Its location at Cheltenham and Ogontz Avenues puts it at the heart of new retail development, and near long-time local businesses in Cheltenham Township and the city of Philadelphia.

While the project was designed with an eye on the future, there are plenty of immediate benefits for SEPTA customers — and anyone else who walks, drives, bikes or does business in the area.

The loop's looks will no doubt turn heads, but safety upgrades were the project's top priority. Bus lane patterns were altered to improve traffic flow both inside the facility and on surrounding roads, and a new traffic signal was installed mid-block on Ogontz Ave.These features make the facility safer for passengers, pedestrians and motorists who share the surrounding roads with SEPTA buses.

Security was another priority. New lights have been added and strategically placed to make the loop and the surrounding area safer for SEPTA riders, pedestrians, and nearby residents and businesses.

A creative design allowed for these nuts-and-bolts upgrades to be incorporated with eye-catching improvements, such as new, aesthetically pleasing bus shelters, and 20,000 square feet of landscaping and green space.