SEPTA Bus Revolution, Approved!

Philadelphia, PA: After years of revisions, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA, has finally approved the “Bus Revolution” which aims to revamp the entire SEPTA bus network, something that hasn’t properly been done since SEPTA was created. These changes will take place starting in June 2025, and continue through the fall of 2025.

There is several articles going over the history of SEPTA and how this is a historic moment, but this one will go over what’s being changed. (This article is still being worked on).

Click here to view the official SEPTA Bus Revolution Recommended system map, published April 2024.

Eliminated Routes

The following routes are being eliminated with no direct replacements: 1, 35, 47M, 50, 62, 78, 80, 89, 91, 103, 123, 150, 201.

The following routes are being eliminated in favor of On-Demand Transit Zones: 90, 92, 128, 132, 133, 139, 206.

Unmodified Routes

The following routes are not being changed outside of their schedules: 4, 6, 16, 21, 23, 27, 28, 29, 32, 39, 47, 54, 56, 59, 66, 71(H), 75, 81 (XH), 93, 109, 135, LUCY, Boulevard Direct.

All other routes not mentioned above are being modified or replaced with new/modified routes. Below actually goes over the changes to routes throughout the system.

Re-Labeled Routes

With the Bus Revolution, all letter routes will receive number labels. This, along with SEPTA Metro will finally eliminate the remnants of the old system, where letters were buses and numbers were trolleys, as now all bus routes will have numbers.

• Route G will become route 63
• Route H will become route 71
• Route J will become route 41
• Route K will be merged into route 26
• Route L will become route 51
• Route R will become route 82
• Route XH will become route 81

Modified Routes

The following routes are being modified by either being extended, cut back, or re-routed: 2, 3, 5, 7, 12, 14, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 31, 33, 37, 38, 40, 41(J), 42, 44, 45, 46, 48, 52, 53, 55, 57, 58, 60, 61, 63(G), 64, 65, 67, 68, 77, 82(R), 84, 88, 94, 95, 96, 97, 104, 108, 112, 113, 114, 115, 117, 118, 119, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131.

• Route 2 will be simplified and all trips will operate to Wayne Junction
• Route 3: Some rush hour trips will alternate only operating via Cecil B. Moore Avenue and Front Street to York-Dauphin Station on the
• Route 5 will operate via 4th Street Southbound instead of 2nd Street.
• Route 7: Service realignment in North Philadelphia to remain on 29th Street in Both Directions, as well as service being truncated to 20th-Johnston on the southern end. Connections with train service to be eliminated.
• Route 9: Eastern terminus to be 5th-Market, creating a new transfer opportunity with the at 5th St Station.
• Route 12: Service re-routed to operated via Chestnut and Walnut Streets to take advantage of the transit priority operations. Locust Street Service would be eliminated. Connections to 50th-Woodland will remain.
• Route 14 will be simplified and all trips will alternate between serving the Frankford Transit Center to Neshaminy Mall route and the Frankford Transit Center to Oxford Valley Mall trip. All alternate services such as Byberry-Evans, MARMAX, Caroline-Comly, and Bucks County Technology Park operations will be eliminated.
• Route 17 will be simplified and all trips will terminate at 20th-Johnston. Pattison Avenue and Navy Yard Service eliminated (though provided by route 45).
• Route 20: All service to operate “via Keswick” and service around Holme Circle re-routed to current route 50’s alignment via Ashton Road.
• Route 22: Service between Cedarbrook Plaza and Olney Transit Center to be changed to operate via Nedro Avenue, Wister Street, Wyncote Avenue, Limekiln Pike, Thouron Avenue, and Wadsworth Avenue. All trips will only alternate between Willow Grove and Warminster operations. All other alternate trips will be eliminated. Service along Broad Street will exclusively be route 16. Cheltenham Avenue Service would be provided by route 16, and new route 72.
• Route 24 will be rerouted to operate via Whitaker Avenue to Cottman Avenue, Cottman to Central Avenue, then Central Avenue to Fox Chase Loop. Route 24 will alternate between terminating at Fox Chase Loop and Rockledge.
• Route 27 will be simplified and alternate between Ridge-Cathedral and Plymouth Meeting Mall. Barren Hill trips to be eliminated
• Route 31 will be re-routed to operate via Market Street between City Hall and 63rd Street.
• Route 33 will be re-routed to operate northbound via 21st Street in North Philadelphia. No northbound service on 19th Street.
• Route 37 will be re-routed in Southwest Philadelphia to 63rd Street instead of 61st. All Service will terminate at PHL Terminal D. New route 137 will operate to Chester Transit Center, but start at Oregon Station.
• Route 38 will be re-routed westbound via Market Street to 34th/33rd Streets in University City. Ben Franklin Parkway service to be eliminated. This route will now terminate at Ford-Monument. Wissahickon Transit Center service via Presidential will be provided by route 40.
• Route 40 will be re-routed via University City to 33rd-Dickenson. Service along Lombard and South Streets to be replaced with route 42. Route extended to Wissahickon Transit Center
• Route 41 which is to be the new label for Route J, will be re-routed to operate via Duncannon Avenue/Ashdale Street instead of Fisher Avenue.
• Route 42 to be re-routed via Lombard, Pine, and South Streets. Service along Walnut/Chestnut Service replaced with expanded service on route 12.
• Route 44‘s via Narberth Station and Gladwyne Services will be eliminated. All trips to operate to Ardmore Station
• Route 45 to be extended to the Navy Yard via NRG Station. Packer Avenue and Oregon Station connection to be eliminated.
• Route 46 to be slightly re-aligned to remain on 60th Street until Columbia Avenue in both directions
• Route 48 to be re-routed to remain on Market Street/JFK Blvd westbound, and operate via Fairmount on westbound trips.
• Route 51 which is to be the new label for route L, is being re-routed to operate via Old York Road, 66th Avenue, and Stenton Avenue. Service to Erdenheim to be eliminated. Nedro Avenue and Wister Street service to be replaced by route 22.
• Route 52 will be simplified and Gladwyne trips will be eliminated. All trips will start at 50th-Woodland , and alternate between 54th-City and 50th-Parkside operations.
• Route 53 will be extended in both directions. Westbound service will be extended to Carpenter Lane Regional Rail station, and Eastbound Service will be extended via Hunting Park Avenue, Kensington Avenue, Castor Avenue, Glenwood Avenue, Butler Street, and Arimingo Avenue to Richmond-Westmoreland. A new connection will be created at Erie-Torresdale Station.
• Route 55 will be simplified and only operate the Willow Grove Mall and Doylestown service. All other cutbacks will be eliminated.
• Route 57 will be re-routed in Olney to a more direct Alignment via Godfrey Avenue and Front Street. Most service will be cutback at 4th-Oregon with some service extended to serve NRG Station
• Route 58 will be simplified and all trips will alternate between serving Neshaminy Mall and serving Buselton-City Line. All Tomlinson Service will be replaced with route 67. “Old Buselton Avenue” diversion to be eliminated.
• Route 60 will be extended to Wissahickon Transit Center. All eastbound trips will terminate at Richmond-Westmoreland.
• Route 61 will be simplified, and alternate between terminating at Wissahickon Transfer Center and Ridge-Summit. All southbound service will terminate at 13th-Market, moving the connection to 13th Street Station providing new connections to .
• Route 63 which will be the new label for route G, will be simplified and all trips will start at Pier 70. Service will be re-routed to remain on 57th Street in both directions between Baltimore Avenue and Chestnut/Walnut Streets. Service near Overbrook Station will be aligned to serve the same streets in both directions.
• Route 64 will be slightly re-routed to operate via Parkside in both directions. It will also be re-routed to remain on Greys Ferry Avenue to Washington Avenue.
• Route 65 will be heavily extended to operate via Chelten, Chew, and Olney Avenues to Fern Rock Transit Center. This will provide new connections to Olney Transit Center.
• Route 67 will be dramatically shortened to operate to Buselton and Tomlinson. Service to Philadelphia Mills to be eliminated. Red Lion Road service to be replaced by new route 85.
• Route 68 will be re-routed to operate via Oregon and Passyunk Avenues. Service beyond PNC Center to 69th Street Transit Center will be eliminated.
• Route 77 will be extended eastbound to Torresdale-Cottman. Service will be streamlined to remain on Cottman Avenue/Township Line Road/Glenside Avenue.
• Route 79 will be extended through University City to 40th Street Station. This will replace parts of route 49, and provide a new connection to University City from South Philly.
• Route 82, which will be the new label for route R, will be simplified and all trips will operate between Frankford Transit Center and Wissahickon Transit Center
• Route 84 will be simplified, and all trips will operate to Philadelphia Mills. All trips to Buselton-County Line will be replaced with new route 86. Service will be modified to remain on Knights Road to Frankford Avenue.
• Route 88 all trips will operate to Frankford-Gregg. Service along Welsh Road to be replaced with new route 83.
• Route 94 will be slightly re-routed to serve Erdenheim.
• Route 95 will be redone to operate between Plymouth Meeting Mall to King of Prussia Mall via Gulph Mills Station. Service to Willow Grove Park Mall to be eliminated.
• Route 96 will be re-routed to serve New Hope Street in Norristown
• Route 97 will be cutback at Plymouth Meeting Mall. Service to Chestnut Hill to be Eliminated.
• Route 104 service will be slightly realigned to remain on West Chester Pike.
• Route 108 service will be streamlined in Southwest Philadelphia to remain on Church Lane to Woodland Avenue, then via Island Avenue.
• Route 112 will be re-aligned to operate via Newton Road to DCCC.
• Route 113 will be simplified, and operate frequent service from 69th Street Transit Center to Chester Transit Center.
• Route 114 will be cut back to Chester Transit Center. Service to Darby Transit Center to be provided by new route 116.
• Route 115 will be re-routed to run via current route 103 to Ardmore. Service within Sharon Hill to be eliminated. A new connection to lines at Ardmore Junction Station.
• Route 117 will be extended to Wawa Station, replacing the segment of route 114.
• Route 124 will be cut back to 30th-Market, and simplified in King of Prussia.
• Route 125 will be cut back to 30th-Market
• Route 127 will be streamlined to be more direct to Trenton Transit Center. Service via Levittown will be replaced with an On-Demand Transit Zone. Service will also be extended back to Neshaminy Mall.

Merged Routes

These routes are being replaced with modified routes or merged with other routes: K, 8, 18, 19, 25, 26, 30, 43, 49, 70, 79, 98, 99, 105, 106, 110, 111, 119, 126, 130, 139, 310, 311

• Route 8 will merge into a modified route 18, but service via Tabor Road will be completely eliminated.
  • New Route 18 will operate it’s current route between Cedarbrook Plaza and Olney Rising Sun Avenues, then continue via Olney Avenue to Tabor Ave, then Tabor to Adams, then Roosevelt Boulevard, operating to Cheltenham Avenue and Terminating at Frankford Transit Center.
  • Route 70 will take over Rising Sun Routing up to Cottman Avenue.
• Route 18 will be modified on the eastern end, to serve Frankford Transit Center creating a new connection with L1 trains
  • Route 70 will take over route 18‘s operation via Rising Sun Avenue
  • New Route 18 will operate it’s current route between Cedarbrook Plaza and Olney Rising Sun Avenues, then continue via Olney Avenue to Tabor Ave, then Tabor to Adams, then Roosevelt Boulevard, operating to Cheltenham Avenue and Terminating at Frankford Transit Center.
  • Service to Fox Chase loop will be eliminated.
• Route 19 will be merged with route 70 on the eastern end.
  • Route 19 will be rerouted to serve Fern Rock via current route 70
  • Service to Torresdale Station via Grant Avenue will remain.
  • Route 19 will no longer operate to Frankford Transit Center.
• Route 25 would be replaced by routes 73 and 76.
  • Route 73 will take over operation between Castor Avenue and Richmond Street and 2nd-Spring Garden
  • Route 76 will take over operation along Columbus Boulevard
  • Route 25 would be discontinued
• Route 26 and Route K will merge, with route 26 being extended to Wissahickon Transit Center
  • Route K will be eliminated completely.
  • Route 26 would be re-routed in two places
    • Service via Chew and Olney Avenues to be re-routed to operate via Chelten Avenue, Wyncote Avenue, 66th Avenue, Godfrey Avenue, and Adams Avenue.
    • Service via Harbison Avenue, Frankford Avenue, and Torresdale Avenue to re-routed to operate via Buselton Avenue
  • “Via Frankford” and “Via Torresdale” services to be eliminated.
  • “One-Olney Square” service to be eliminated.
• Route 30 will be merged into a modified route 43
  • Route 43 will take over operations to 69th Street Transit Center and via Haverford Avenue.
  • Service to William H. Gray 30th Street Station and via University City to be eliminated.
• Route 43 will be re-routed west of 41st Street to operate via Haverford Avenue to 69th Street Transit Center.
  • Service to Parkside Loop will be eliminated.
  • Service to take over route 30 operations west of 41st Street.
• Route 49 to be re-routed to terminate at the 40th Street Portal
  • a new connection to be formed with T2 , T3 , T4 , and T5 trains.
  • Service via 30th/29th Street in South Philadelphia to be replaced with route 79
• Route 70 will be re-routed to operate via current route 18 on the western end.
  • New eastern terminus to be Olney Transit Center
    • Service to Fern Rock Transit Center to be eliminated
    • Central Avenue and East Oak Lane service to be replaced by route 19
  • Service to operate via Olney and Rising Sun Avenues, to Cottman Avenue
• Route 79 will be rerouted to terminate in at 40th Street Station on the western end.
  • Service to take over the southern portion of route 49 via 30th/29th Streets and University City
  • Service to be extended to 40th Street Station creating a new connection with L1 trains
• Route 98 will provide a new direct route to Plymouth Meeting Mall from Norristown
  • Service will also be extended to serve King of Prussia Mall via current route 99.
  • Service to Blue Bell to be eliminated.
• Route 99 will be cutback to King of Prussia Mall, but extended to every other trip will serve Limerick.
  • Alternate Limerick Service will replace current route 139.
  • Service to Norristown Transit Center replaced by extended route 98
• Route 105 will take over operations to Paoli, operating alternating trips to Rosemont and Paoli
  • Route 105 would take over operations to Paoli from route 106
• Route 106 service to Paoli will be replaced by expanded route 105 service
• Route 110 will be extended to serve Penn State University
• Route 111 service will be merged into a modified route 110.
• Route 139 will be merged into a modified route 99
• Route 310 and 311 Horsham Breeze service will be merged back to the original pre-2016 operations of the Horsham Breeze.

New Routes

The following new routes will be created: 72, 76, 83, 85, 86, 87, 116, 137, 142.

• Route 72 will be a new crosstown service operating between Cedarbrook Plaza and Frankford Transit Center via Cheltenham Avenue and Adams Avenue.
  • This route has been in the works as early as 2010 and it’s finally coming to light.
  • This route makes SEPTA Metro connections at Frankford Transit Center with L1 trains
• Route 76 will operate between Rising Sun-Olney and Pier 70, operating via Whitaker Avenue, G Street, Frankford Avenue, and Columbus Boulevard.
  • The Northern Portion of this route is all new service while the Southern Portion takes over from current route 25.
  • This line makes SEPTA Metro Connections at Somerset Station with L1 trains.
• Route 83 will be a new crosstown line operating from Torresdale Station to Willow Grove Park Mall via Holme Circle, Welsh Road, and Holy Redeemer Hospital.
  • The eastern portion of this route will take over the crosstown portion of current route 88, while the eastern portion is a whole new route.
  • This line makes no SEPTA Metro connections.
• Route 85 will be a new crosstown line operating from Frankford-Knights to Holy Redeemer Hospital via Red Lion Road and Drummond-Decatur.
  • This line will be a mix of the current route 67‘s crosstown service, and discontinued service on route 50.
  • This line makes no SEPTA Metro connections.
• Route 86 will be a new crosstown line operating between Cornwells Heights Station and Forrest Hills Station via Philadelphia Mills, Southampton and Byberry Roads.
  • This service replaces the crosstown portion on current route 84
  • This will be the first time Cornwells Heights Station had weekend bus service since route 304 was discontinued in 2009
  • This line makes no SEPTA Metro connections.
• Route 87 will be a new route operating from Frankford-Gregg Loop to Bucks County Technology Park via Frankford Avenue, Knights Road, Philadelphia Mills, Parx Casino, and Neshaminy Mall.
  • This route will replace the section of route 130 between Frankford-Knights and Neshaminy Mall
  • This route will take over service to Bucks County Technology Park, previously served by a branch of route 14.
  • This line makes no SEPTA Metro connections
• Route 116 will be a new route operating from Darby Transit Center to Chester Transit Center and Claymont
  • This route will replace existing portions of route 113 and 114
  • This route will make SEPTA Metro connections at Darby Transit Center with T3 and T4 trains
  • This will be the 4th iteration of a route 116 since 1990
• Route 137 will be a new route from Oregon Station to Chester Transit Center via Philadelphia Airport and PA-291
  • This will be the first time a bus route directly served the airport from Oregon Station since Route 303 was discontinued in 1998
  • This line will replace route 37 service between Chester Transit Center and PHL Airport.
  • This route makes SEPTA Metro connections at Oregon Station with B1 trains
• Route 142 will be a new route operating between King of Prussia Mall and Exton Square Mall via Paoli
  • This line will take over portions of route 92 and and route 204.
  • This line makes no SEPTA Metro Connections.

On-Demand Transit Zones

The SEPTA Bus Revolution will also introduce micro-transit, in the form of “On-Demand Zones” which replaces a lot of service in Bucks and Chester Counties. The following routes are being eliminated in favor of On-Demand Transit Zones: 90, 92, 128, 132, 133, 139, 204, 206.

• Bucks County On-Demand Zones
  • Bristol-Croydon-Cornwells Heights
    • Replacing service on routes 128 and 133 and discontinued portions of route 130
    • Provides connections to bus routes 66, 84, 85, 86, and 129
    • Provides connections to the Trenton Line at multiple stations.
  • Levittown-Bristol
    • Replacing Levittown Service on route 127 and 128
    • Provides connections to bus routes 14, 127, and 129
    • Provides connections to the Trenton Line at Levittown and Bristol Stations
• Montgomery County On-Demand Zones
  • Lansdale-Telford
    • Replacing service on route 132
    • Provides connections to bus routes 96 and 94
    • Provides connections to Lansdale/Doylestown Line at Lansdale Station
  • Norristown
    • Replaces service on route 90
    • Provides connections to bus routes 93, 96, 97, 98, and 131
    • Provides connections to Norristown Line at Norristown Transit Center
    • Provides connections to SEPTA Metro M trains at Norristown Transit Center
• Chester County On-Demand Zones
  • Paoli-Great Valley
    • Replaces service on route 206
    • Provides connections to bus routes 105 and 142
    • Provides connections to Paoli/Thorndale Line at Paoli and Malvern Stations
  • West Chester-Malvern
    • Replaces service on route 92
    • Provides connections to routes 104, 105, 135, and 142
    • Provides connection to West Chester Transit Center
    • Provides connection to Paoli/Thorndale Line at Paoli and Malvern Stations

Follow this link to see more specific details related to the Bus Revolution changes.

About the author: Dash

I have been with Virtual Transit Center since it's conception as the "Dash Forums" back in 2008. Since then, I have been writing and doing YouTube side by side, focusing both on Transportation and Gaming. Most of my knowledge comes from SEPTA as I lived in Philadelphia for most of my life. As of 2021, I am on YouTube as DashTransit, Dash5155, and TheDashOfficial.

As for the name DashTransit itself, it actually stems from my YouTube channel.

DashTransit was originally called "njt5329" and the channel was just clips of buses. Mostly SEPTA and NJT. A Fujifilm Finepix was used in this era.

Starting in July 2011, the Canon SX130IS camera became the camera of the channel, bringing HD documentary-style videos much like my buddy (trainman1971) did for DVD for many years past. This is when the channel became known as "Transit Action Series"

In May 2012, the original Canon SX130IS retired, and then all videos were recorded off a mobile phone until eventually uploaded proved too difficult due to hardships IRL

Starting in 2017, I used a Canon SX200IS from Bastranz to reboot the channel that otherwise was dead for a whole year prior.

Between April 19th, 2019, and January 21st, 2021, all videos were recorded by a Canon SX710 HS camera. The channel was renamed DashTransit 4/19/19.