SEPTA Board Approves Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Service Plan
June 22, 2017
The SEPTA Board today approved the Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Service Plan, which includes the launch of a new express bus service on Roosevelt Boulevard. The Board’s vote follows a series of public hearings and community meetings about the proposals considered for the Annual Service Plan.
The new Roosevelt Boulevard Direct Bus service will be implemented in coordination with the City of Philadelphia later this year. The limited-stop service includes some elements of Bus Rapid Transit, with the goal of providing a more efficient transit option along the heavily traveled corridor. Buses will operate from Frankford Transportation Center to Neshaminy Mall, making only eight stops in each direction. Trips would run every 10 minutes during the morning and evening rush hours, and every 15 minutes for most of the rest of the service day. Compared to existing bus service, customers could see travel-time reductions of approximately 30 percent. Roosevelt Boulevard Direct Bus service is expected to launch in the fall. Schedules and other service details will be released in the coming months.
In addition to the Roosevelt Boulevard Direct Bus service, the FY18 Annual Service Plan approved by the SEPTA Board includes an enhancement to Bus Route 132 that is designed to provide service to a retail and health service corridor along the border of Souderton Borough, Montgomery County and Hilltown Township, Bucks County.
A new Bus Route 49, which was part of the initial plan, has been deferred for further study and analysis. The proposal would establish new north-south bus route operating from Brewerytown and Fairmount to Grays Ferry and University City. It would provide a connection from nearby neighborhoods to the growing employment base, and create a direct transit option between 30th Street Station and the attractions located along the Ben Franklin Parkway. While the Route 49 proposal received significant positive feedback, SEPTA will take additional time to consider issues raised at the public hearings, including suggestions to extend the northern terminus to 33rd and Dauphin Streets Loop along with routing suggestions in the Grays Ferry area.
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