Thirty SEPTA bus routes will change Sunday, Aug. 23, when the transit authority launches the first phase of a network overhaul that reshapes service along the Lancaster Avenue corridor running through Lower Merion Township.
The redesign is the first comprehensive rework of SEPTA's bus system in the authority's 63-year history, according to the City Avenue District. The agency began planning the overhaul after ridership declined between 2013 and 2019, the Inquirer reported, and formally adopted the new network in May 2024 following what it called its largest-ever community engagement effort: 150 in-person events, 40 virtual meetings and 10 public hearings that drew feedback from more than 20,000 residents.
The plan was approved in 2024 but put on hold amid uncertainty around state funding and threats of deep service cuts, Axios Philadelphia reported. SEPTA tweaked the plans before getting the green light earlier in 2026.
What's changing along Lancaster Avenue
Phase 1 primarily affects South Philadelphia, Kensington, Juniata, Roxborough and the Cheltenham and Lancaster Avenue corridors. The changes start Sunday morning. For Lower Merion riders who depend on Lancaster Avenue buses to reach jobs, medical appointments and shops in Ardmore, Bryn Mawr and beyond, that means checking routes now.
Specific route-number changes for Lancaster Avenue stops in Lower Merion were not detailed in available public documents. The Inquirer's interactive map, published Thursday, Aug. 20, allows riders to enter their address and see exactly how their commute is affected.
System-wide highlights
Across the network, Phase 1 creates two new routes: Route 72 along Cheltenham Avenue and Route 76 connecting North and South Philadelphia. Six routes are being extended, and Route 105 will reach Paoli Hospital starting Monday, Aug. 24, when Route 106 is eliminated. Six other routes are also being cut: 35, 47M, 62, 78, 80 and 89.
Ten routes gain additional midday, late-night and weekend service. Frequency improvements are coming to Routes 6, 46, 47, 49, 57 and 64. Some routes, including 17, 25, 44 and 49, will see reduced service.
What's ahead for Lower Merion
When all three phases are fully implemented, SEPTA says the number of routes offering frequent service — defined as a bus every 15 minutes or better, seven days a week — will jump from eight to 29. Phase 2 is planned for February 2027 and Phase 3 for June 2027. Phase 3 includes new SEPTA Go service in Montgomery County that would directly affect the Lower Merion area.
Bus ridership now accounts for more than half of SEPTA's daily trips. As of May 2026, buses carried 53.6% of total ridership, up from 52.1% the prior year.
SEPTA's state funding, which helped avert deep service cuts and fare increases in recent years, runs out next year. Without a long-term funding plan, the threat of cuts returns.
Riders can check their specific route changes at SEPTA's Phase 1 page or the Inquirer's interactive map before the Aug. 23 launch.
