The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority plans to begin implementing its New Bus Network initiative in August, as outlined in the recently released Fiscal Year 2027 Annual Service Plan.

Formerly known as Bus Revolution, the initiative represents the “first-ever comprehensive redesign” of SEPTA’s bus network in its 63-year history.

According to a release, this new network was approved by the SEPTA Board in May 2024, following the largest community engagement effort in the agency’s history. Over three years, SEPTA held 150 in-person events, 40 virtual meetings, and 10 public hearings, generating feedback from more than 20,000 residents.

The plan will now be implemented as part of SEPTA’s Annual Service Plan process, which will include additional hearings on April 15, followed by a board vote in May.

“New Bus Network is a key piece of SEPTA’s commitment to make the transit system more reliable for our existing customers, and more useful to more people so we can attract new customers,” said SEPTA General Manager Scott A. Sauer. “We are committed to conducting an extensive education campaign with our customers and employees in the coming months to ensure these improvements are implemented seamlessly.”

SEPTA Plan Aims to Improve Bus Reliability

SEPTA has made some adjustments to the plan over the last two years. However, the goal remains the same: make the bus network easier to use, more efficient, with reduced wait times for customers, and more reliable overall.

When fully implemented, the number of routes offering frequent service, which is defined as a trip every 15 minutes or better, seven days a week, would increase from eight currently to 29. Additional mid-day, late-night, and weekend service will be added to ten routes in Phase 1 as a foundation to this plan.

To achieve these improvements, some redundant bus routes that overlap with existing services and have low usage would be eliminated.

There would also be two new routes added: the Route 72, which would operate as an East-West Cross-town on Cheltenham Avenue, connecting Frankford Transit Center to Cedarbrook Plaza; and the 76, which would provide north-south service from Crescentville down through Fishtown and into Center City via Columbus Boulevard. These new connections are designed to meet increased demand in these areas.

Phased-in Approach Schedule

Phase 1 would launch in August 2026, covering South Philadelphia, Kensington/Juniata, the Cheltenham and Lancaster Avenue corridors, and Roxborough.

Phase 2 is scheduled for February 2027, and Phase 3 for June 2027. Additional implementation is scheduled as part of the FY2028 Annual Service plan beginning in August 2027.