SEPTA New Bus Network Phase 1 Breakdown

Phase 1 of SEPTA‘s New Bus Network begins August 23rd, 2026. Instead of only focusing on the eliminated routes like most media sources, we are going to do a proper break down of what’s happening. Starting with the new routes themselves, then routes that are being merged/consolidated and ending with the eliminated routes.

New Routes

These are new routes serving entirely new areas, not previously served by the SEPTA bus service network

• Route 72
  • New service from Cedarbrook Plaza to Frankford Transit Center
  • The first SEPTA bus route to serve Cheltenham Avenue between Broad Street and 2nd Street.
• Route 76
  • New service from Rising Sun-Olney to Pier 70
  • First SEPTA bus route on Whitaker Avenue between Roosevelt Boulevard and Wyoming Avenue
  • Replacing the South Philadelphia portion of route 25

Merged/Consolidated Routes

Firstly, SEPTA’s language regarding the word “eliminated” and “shortended” may cause confusion. A lot of the routes they are listing as discontinued or shortened, is either being merged into other routes, or a very limited spur of the route (like rush hour/weekend only trips). So let’s begin.

• Routes 17 and 45
  • Weekend service on route 17 to the Navy Yard is being transitioned over to route 45
  • Service to Broad-Pattison on route 17 is also being transitioned over to route 45
  • Route 45 will operate every other trip to the Navy Yard via Broad-Pattison 7 days a week.
  • Route 17 will operate all trips to 20th-Johnston at all times (no alternating trips)
• Routes 35 and 61
  • Route 35 will be consolidated into route 61
    • Service on Manayunk Avenue will only be provided by route 27
  • Route 61 will be extened north to Ridge-Summit
  • Service on Domino Lane would now be provided by route 61
• Routes 49 and 79
  • Route 49 will be split in half
    • North Philadelphia to University City would continue to be numbered route 49
      • These trips on route 49 will terminate at 40th Street and Baltimore Avenue
      • Service will operate on 33rd Street instead of 29th Street between Poplar St and Dauphin Street
    • South Philadelphia service to University City would be provided by alternating trips on an extended route 79
      • These trips on route 79 will terminate at 40th and Market Streets
• Routes 25, 53, 76, and 89
  • Route 89 is being consolidated into sections of route 25, 53, and 76
    • Route 25 will be re-routed to operate on Aramingo South of Lehigh Avenue
    • Route 53 will be extended east via Hunting Park, Erie-Torresdale, Castor Avenue, Glenwood Avenue, Aramingo Avenue, and Ontario Street to Richmond-Westmoreland Loop
    • Route 76 will provide service along F and G Streets through Juniata Park and Harrowgate
  • Route 25 will operate to 2nd-Spring Garden
    • All service south of Spring Garden will be Provided by Route 76
    • Frequency on route 25 will be every 15 minutes or less from 6am to 9pm
• Route 78
  • All route 78 service was replaced with Trenton Line service, making the same stops
• Routes 105 and 106
  • Routes 105 and 106 will be consolidated into one single route, operating from 69th Street to Paoli.
    • This route will be numbered 105
    • Service via Malvern and 63rd Street currently provided by route 105 will be discontinued
    • All service will alternate between terminating in Paoli or Rosemont.

Re-routed lines

These routes got re-routed through different areas.

• Route 49 was re-routed through University City to terminate at 40th-Baltimore. It was also re-routed through Fairmount to operate a similar route to current route 7. The Fairmount Street crosstown service was removed, and service in South Philadelphia was sent to route 79.
• Route 57 was re-routed through Fern Rock to operate via Front Street and Godfrey Avenue. Service alternates between this service and the Crescentville Road routing, with Crescentville Road being served once an hour. All trips that originally cut back to Rising Sun-Olney was extended to Fern Rock Transit Center, and now route 57 is a frequent bus route. Alternate service via Crescentville Road is also provided by route 72.

Extended Routes

These routes either got a new leg added, or was overall extended, but not just with the intention of replacing another route.

• Route 45 was extended to the Navy Yard 7 days a week
• Route 52 was extended to Wissahickon Transit Center from 54th-City.
• Route 53 was extended west Carpenter Lane Station and east to Richmond-Westmoreland Loop via Hunting Park Avenue
• Route 60 was extended to Wissahickon Transit Center and trips will alternate between terminating there and 35th-Allegheny
• Route 61 was extended north to Ridge-Summit Loop. All service operates between 8th-Market and Ridge-Summit
• Route 79 was extended north from 29th-Snyder to 41st-Market via 29th/30th Streets in South Philadelphia, and 38th Street through University City. Trips alternate between terminating at 41st-Market and 29th-Snyder.

Eliminated Routes

Now even though this article is hilighting the increased service, there are some routes being eliminated with no direct replacements. Although there may be alternate service, these are the only routes that will truly be eliminated.

• Route 47M Northbound Service from Whitman Plaza to 7th-Spring Garden via 9th Street
• Route 62 Peak Hour Express Service from Andorra to 8th-Market
  • Alternate service provided by route 9
• Route 80 Peak Hour Express Service from Olney Transit Center to Horsham
• All service to Gladwyne
  • Originally provided by limited spurs of routes 44 and 52

This is what’s changing so far with phase 1. Phase 2 changes are coming in February 2027, and that is when we will see some cuts as well as major changes to the system! Larger in scale than even this one!