After a few years of planning, which included community meetings and open houses, SEPTA is finally ready to launch a new bus route that will connect the University City section with Brewerytown, Fairmount, Grays Ferry and Strawberry Mansion. The new Bus Route 49 service (33rd/Dauphin – 29th/Snyder) will begin on Sunday, Feb. 24.

The new bus service will address a north-south gap that exists in the current transit network. It will also serve the 30th Street Station and the Ben Franklin Parkway attractions. Here are other key destinations along Bus 49 Route:  Continue Reading

Proposed Route 49 (Click to enlarge).

On Thursday, the SEPTA Board approved the Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Service Plan, which includes the launch of some new bus routes in the city. The widely discussed Route 49 that would connect the city’s Fairmount and Brewerytown neighborhoods with Grays Ferry via University City hasn’t been approved for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2017.

The new bus service, which was part of the initial plan, has been deferred for further study and analysis after a series of open houses and public meetings held since March 2016.

The proposed route made many West Philly residents excited as it would also create a direct transit option between 30th Street Station and the attractions located along the Ben Franklin Parkway.  Continue Reading

SEPTA has revealed more details on the proposed Route 49, a bus service that would connect the rapidly developing Brewerytown section of the city with Grays Ferry via Fairmount Park and University City. Plans were presented at a community meeting on Tuesday. The route would provide a direct transit option between 30th Street Station and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Here’s a map for the proposed route (via universitycity.org):

Click to enlarge.

Continue Reading

61st and Pine Bus Loop Reconstruction project (Image courtesy SEPTA)

61st and Pine Bus Loop

Today, SEPTA along with local officials and neighborhood leaders broke ground on the reconstruction of the 61st and Pine Bus Loop, a key transit hub in West Philadelphia. The 61st and Pine Bus Loop is a terminus point for the Route 42 bus, one of SEPTA’s busiest with an average daily ridership of nearly 13,000. The $1.8 million capital improvement project is expected to be completed in Spring 2017.

The project will result in a number of improvements, including:

• A new driveway, new curbs and a new passenger boarding platform that are accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Installation of energy efficient lighting and improved security features
• Construction of an open-air passenger waiting shelter
• Installation of site amenities including trash cans, bike racks and fencing
• Landscaping of the site; new signage throughout the facility

During construction, the Route 42 will continue to serve passengers at 61st and Pine. Buses will utilize portions of 61st Street and Pine Street when necessary to accommodate the work.

The 61st and Pine Bus Loop project is part of the overall “Rebuilding the SEPTA System” capital improvement plan.

You can get more information on the proposed SEPTA bus route 49, which would connect Brewerytown and Fairmount with Grays Ferry via West Philly’s University City section, at an open house this Monday (March 28) at SEPTA Headquarters, 1234 Market Street.

The Open House is scheduled for 5-6:30 p.m. and will introduce SEPTA’s Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Service Plan, which includes proposals for some new transit services and changes aimed at improving existing services. SEPTA riders, stakeholders and the general public are encouraged to provide feedback regarding the proposals.

The Open House will be held in the Board Room, Mezzanine Level.

For more information on the proposals, or to submit comments, click here.  Continue Reading

SEPTA has announced new schedules for a number of trolley and bus routes effective June 9. Schedule changes will affect all the trolleys serving West Philadelphia (Route 10, 11, 13, 15, 34, 36) and buses such as Route 21, 42, 43, 44, 52, 64, 65, and Route G. You can download new schedules on the SEPTA website (follow this link).