“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Follow Transit Forward Philadelphia for events and actions to fight for transit funding.
Transit Forward Philadelphia: SEPTA Has Released the New Bus Network Plan – Here’s What You Need to Know – SEPTA announced this month that a total bus system redesign will begin, with changes starting in August 2026. The redesign will include adjustments to routes and schedules, with changes needing to be communicated via social media and physical announcements at transit stops, on buses, etc. Service improvements will be funded with efficiencies created by the system itself. Setting up a source of sustainable funding will also avoid future fiscal cliffs or uncertainty. Some changes are being celebrated by transit advocates, while some adjustments are leaving riders with longer travel times and more transfers needed for routes. Public feedback and communication from SEPTA are both critical for the New Bus Network Plan’s success, and there will be a public open house on April 15th.
BillyPenn: New digital SEPTA displays will bring real-time information to riders – This spring should see live updates for riders on some bus and trolley lines, according to SEPTA. SEPTA’s new pilot program puts 10 “e-paper” displays live on bus or trolley stop poles. The devices will be small enough to be mounted on bus or trolley stop poles, and will use solar power. These are part of a larger initiative to modernize and simplify SEPTA service. Riders can expect to see them at sunny bus and trolley stops in May.
NBC Philadelphia: Philly Love Run Half Marathon and 7k: Closures, parking and SEPTA changes – This Sunday, the Saucony Philly Love Run Half Marathon and 7k will attract more than 15,000 runners to Center City. Street closures at and around the Museum of Art will be in place from 3:00 am until around 1:00 pm on Sunday, 3/29. Parking restrictions will also be in place. Several bus routes will also be detoured on Saturday and Sunday of this weekend, in the Center City and Old City areas. Live detour and route updates will be posted on SEPTA’s website.
Other Stories
WHYY: Philadelphia No Kings protest 2026: what to know
City & State Pennsylvania: As TSA staffing crisis deepens, Philadelphia International Airport lines get worse
6ABC: Uber Eats debuts autonomous sidewalk delivery robots in Philadelphia
WBNG (Harrisburg, PA): PennDOT seeks feedback related to winter services
Metro Magazine: Amtrak Sets New Course for Long-Distance Fleet Renewal
Bicycle Coalition: Learnings from the 2026 Vision Zero PHL Conference
SEPTA: Bus Service to Replace Trains Bridgeport Station to Norristown Transit Center, Mar. 29 – May 9
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
Follow Transit Forward Philadelphia for events and actions to fight for transit funding.
The Inquirer: Remember SEPTA’s plan to redo bus routes? It’s back and it’s happening (for real this time) – Over the next 18 months, SEPTA will implement the redesigned bus network that was shelved last year. The route revisions are mostly the same as what the SEPTA board approved in May 2024, with the full list found here. Changes will be implemented in phases, after the board votes on the plan in May. Over the 18 months, 18 bus routes will be cut, some routes will have increased frequency, and no bus stops will be moved.
City of Philadelphia: City Announces Road Closures, Parking Restrictions and Other Details for the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade – The city has announced road closures following the parade route. The parade begins at 11:15 AM on March 17th, starting at 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard. The following SEPTA bus lines will be detoured: 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 44, 47, 48, 61, 124 and 125. Parking restrictions will also be in effect. Attendees of the parade are strongly encouraged to take public transportation to and from the event.
WHYY: SEPTA riders rally at City Hall to preserve free-ride programs in new budget – Groups and representatives from across Philadelphia gathered at City Hall last week, to advocate for two programs funded by the City. The Zero Fare program funds SEPTA cards for almost 70,000 Philadelphians, and the Municipal Key Advantage Program also provides transit for around 13,000 city workers. Speakers included transit advocates, union leaders, council representatives, and zero fare recipients. Transit access is critical for access to healthcare, education, jobs, and community, especially for the recipients of zero fare, who are the most vulnerable. The city spends about $9 million on the Key Advantage Program and Zero Fare adds another $20 million, and Philadelphia’s operating budget for fiscal year 2026 is around $6.84 billion. The programs were included in the budget as announced by the mayor on March 12th.
Other Stories
City & State Pennsylvania: Philly Mayor Parker’s $7B budget – by the numbers
PhillyVoice: Security checkpoint at Philly airport closed due to TSA staffing shortages
Philadelphia Today: A Decade In, How Far is Philadelphia From Its Vision Zero Goal of Eliminating Traffic Deaths By 2030?
PhillyVoice: Center City expands Open Streets program to 20 car-free days this year
SEPTA: St. Patrick’s Day Parade Bus Detours, March 15
BillyPenn: Philly’s bus station needs a permanent home; questions loom about Filbert Street, ICE office, Amtrak
