Introduction

Please Donate!
If everyone reading this could donate just one dollar today, we could afford to have Virtual Transit Center on the web for up to 6 years without interruption. For those who enjoy Virtual Transit Center and the services we provide, please consider donating.

SEPTA Route 44 Routing

SEPTA route 44 operates local via Market Street, then express between 30th Street Station and Presidential and City Avenue via I-76, then Local along City Avenue, Old Lancaster Avenue, and Montgomery Avenue to Ardmore Station. Route 44 also operates alternate service via Narberth Station during rush hours

Key Transfer Points on Route 44

Route 44 shares Market Street with Multiple Routes. Other transfer points along route 44 include…

• 5th Street/Independence Hall Station
  • SEPTA Metro L1
  • SEPTA Bus routes 17, 33, 38
  • NJ Transit Bus Service
• Fashion District Philadelphia
  • SEPTA Metro B3 and L1 lines
  • SEPTA Bus Routes 17, 33, 38, 48, 61
  • All SEPTA Regional Rail Lines at Jefferson Station
• Philadelphia City Hall
  • SEPTA Metro B1, B2, L1, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 lines
  • SEPTA Bus routes 4, 16, 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 48, 124, and 125
  • NJ Transit Bus Service
  • All SEPTA Regional Rail Lines at Suburban Station
• William H. Gray III 30th Street Station
  • SEPTA Metro L1, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 lines
  • SEPTA Bus Routes LUCY, 9, 30, 31, 49, 124, and 125
  • NJ Transit Bus and Rail Service
  • Amtrak Service
  • All SEPTA Regional Rail Lines
• City Avenue and Presidential Blvd
  • SEPTA Bus Routes 1, 38, 52, 65
• 54th Street and City Avenue
  • SEPTA Bus Routes 1, 52, 65
• Ardmore Station, Ardmore PA
  • SEPTA Bus Routes 103 and 105
  • SEPTA Paoli/Thorndale Line at Ardmore Station
  • Amtrak Keystone Corridor Service at Ardmore Station

Route 44 History

Route 44 was started by the Philadelphia Transit Company on September 6th 1960 as a simple route weekday only route between Philadelphia City Hall in Center City to 54th Street and City Avenue via I-76. On February 12th, 1962, Red Arrow and Philadelphia Transit Company turned route 44 into a joint operation, and with this service would be extended to Ardmore and Narberth to the West, and 5th & Market to the East. Starting in 1963, service would also operate Saturdays. When SEPTA took over PTC operations on September 28th 1968, service would be provided by both SEPTA and Red Arrow. SEPTA would also take over Red Arrow on January 29th 1970, but the service would still be split between SEPTA’s City Division (Allegheny Depot) and the Suburban Division formerly provided by Red Arrow.

SEPTA would introduce a version of regular route 44 service via Montgomery, bypassing Narberth, on January 29th 1973. This version would go on to be the more popular variant of route 44. Sunday service on route 44 would begin September 4th 1983. The city transit division completely took over operations of route 44 on November 26th 1989, and all service would operate from Callowhill depot (District 9).

On September 7th 1997, eastbound service on route 44 would alternate operating via 30th Street Station before eventually becoming part of the normal route.

On February 8th 2009 route 121 would be merged into route 44, and service would alternate operating to Gladwyne, and bus service would once again alternate operating via 30th Street Station (service from Gladwyne would be the only service that did not service 30th Street Station)

When the Penn’s Landing viaduct closed, service on route 44 was extended east to Front-Market via Market Street eastbound and Arch Street/6th Street westbound. Route 44 originally would not make stops along Market Street and Arch Streets east of 6th Street but stops were added over time.

On August 23rd, 2026. service to Gladwyne would be discontinued, and service via Narberth would be reduced to a peak hours only service.

Gladwyne Bus Service History

This history of Gladwyne bus service is not as complex as most other routes as the route itself stayed the same for the most part, but the service itself is complex. Service to Gladwyne started off as a branch of route 44 to Gladwyne, labeled 44G, in 1964. The route itself would remain relatively unchanged through its entire run.

As with many SEPTA routes with unusual names, route 44G was redesignated.

First to Route 49 on November 21st 1988, and again to route 121 from route 49 on November 26th, 1989.

Service on route 121 would be re-designated back into route 44 on February 8th 2009, with some additional service to Gladwyne being provided by route 52 starting on the same date. Service on both route 44 and 52 to Gladwyne would ultimately be discontinued on August 23rd 2026.

Other Routes using the same numbers

The number 44 was previously assigned to a route which operated between Haddington to Center City via Lancaster Avenue, Lansdown Avenue, Spring Garden, and Arch Streets. This particular version of route 44 was replaced by SEPTA Metro T1 service. Route 49 is currently service between 33rd Street in Strawberry Mansion to University City and the 40th St Portal T2, T3, T4, T5 station.

New Bus Network Changes

Service on SEPTA route 44 to Gladwyne was eliminated on August 23rd 2026. Likewise, service via Narberth Station was reduced to rush hours only on the same date. Service eastbound on Market Street, and westbound on Arch Street, also started making local stops between 6th and Front Streets.

Timetables

SEPTA Route 44 is active, and you should check SEPTA’s official page for up to date schedules and information. Below are some historic timetables for SEPTA’s bus routes 44, 49, and 121. These are older (out of date) timetable scans with their effective dates listed.

• Routes 44 and 49
  • January 22nd 1989
• Route 44
  • 2008
    • February 10th 2008 (From the collection of Matt Ciecka)
  • 2020
    • November 15th 2020 (From the collection of Matt Ciecka)
• Route 121
  • 1997
    • September 8th 1997 (Now Serves 30th St Station)
    • November 3rd 1997 (Revised to Serve 23rd St)
  • 2001
    • September 3rd 2001
  • 2004
    • February 23rd 2004
    • June 14th 2004
    • September 4th 2004
  • 2005
    • June 13th 2005
• Supplimental 1999 Schedules
  • Route 121, Fall 1999 (From the collection of Matt Ciecka)

Audio Announcements

Here are the exterior/door audio announcements for SEPTA Route 44. Route 121 is below the route 44 list.