After months of discussion, meetings and planning, SEPTA is set to launch, what officials have said is the “first-ever comprehensive redesign of SEPTA’s bus network in its 63-year history,” this weekend. Though it won’t happen all at once, on Sunday, the first phase of the New Bus Networ k initiative will go into effect. What is the New Bus Network? Originally called a “bus revolution,” this effort was approved by the transit provider’s board in May of 2024. Over three years, officials said, SEPTA conducted 150 in-person events, 40 virtual meetings and 10 public hearings to generate feedback from over 20,000 residents to create this initiative. However, officials said, SEPTA made “some adjustments” to the plan over the past two years, though the intent remains to make the bus network easier to use and more efficient, with reduced wait times for riders and improved overall reliability across the system. SEPTA Aug 11 SEPTA launches Route 45 bus service to the Navy Yard as part of New Bus Network SEPTA May 28 SEPTA Board approves annual service plan, including new bus network initiative SEPTA Dec 12, 2023 SEPTA releases final version of its bus network redesign SEPTA Mar 11 SEPTA plans public town halls to discuss retooled ‘bus revolution' Along with these improvements, officials said some bus routes that are redundant with existing services and have low usage would be eliminated. Phase 1 launches Sunday and SEPTA officials said the first steps would be focused on routes covering South Philadelphia, Kensington/Juniata, the Cheltenham and Lancaster Avenue corridors, and Roxborough. Phase 1 includes: New Routes 72 and 76, and extensions of Routes 45, 53, 60, 61, 79, 105 Frequency improvements on Routes 6, 46, 47, 49, 57, and 64 Improved Alignments for Routes 25, 57, 49, 64, 105 Reduced service on Routes 4, 32, 39, 54, and 73 Eliminated low-ridership and inefficient patterns on Routes 17, 44, 52 Eliminated low ridership/duplicative service in Routes 35, 47M, 62, 78, 80, 89, 106 Earlier this month, in a celebration at the Navy Yard, SEPTA and municipal officials — joined by the Phillie Phanatic — launched the revamped Route 45 service. Officials said Phase 2 would follow in February 2027 and Phase 3 in June 2027. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less