New SEPTA Bus Routes, Key Card Perks, and Pro Tips

Later this month, there's going to be changes to SEPTA's network of buses. So we're going to be chatting all about the changes so you know what's going on, the perks you can get with your SEPTA key card so that you can be a pro at riding SEPTA. It's Wednesday, August 5th. I'm Trinaneh, and here's what Philly's talking about. Okay, before we get into today's show, we're doing a little summer cleaning, going through our city cast-filly swag closet and Siani. It turns out we have some brand new, never been claimed thank you gifts meant for our new city cast-filly neighbors. And now we need to give it away. Yeah, Trinay, you know, we have this really awesome membership program that starts at $10 a month or $100 a year. And they get a lot of great perks like ad-free listening, members-only podcast segments, because we're always sharing some good deals with everybody. And a weekly events preview in your inbox every Monday from me. That's Siani Cologne, our creative producer. I love when you give us kind of like the scoop on like, events that we don't know about. And it's really been helpful for me to, especially during the summer when I'm trying to figure out what to do with the kids. Exactly. We're always hooking up our neighbors with the best of the best happening in Philly. And. We always provide the best swag, because when you join as a thank you present, we have a little something special for you. So if you've been looking for a reason to become a neighbor this summer, this is the perfect time. Specifically, we have an unopened box of custom filly pennants we made from our spring membership campaign. You might have seen this bright orange pennant. behind me hanging up in some of the social videos that we've posted. And it says, big as ever, Philly. You know, it's in flyers colors. So it's perfect to represent one of Philly's team, very multi-purpose. And, you know, it comes with a big cheese steak icon because it can't get more Philly than that. Right, right. So if you want one of these pennants that is hanging up on my wall in my kitchen, Claim yours today by becoming a citycast-filly neighbor. Go to membership.citycast.fm slash Philly to snag it right now. And once they're gone, they are gone. But we have some to give away. Again, head over to membership.comcast.fm slash Philly. All right. Ciani. I'm so glad that we are finally, finally getting to talk more about our experiences on SEPTA because as people know, SEPTA is Philly's public transit system. It gets us around the city to the airport, to the stadiums. I know you've been going on like a Philly sports team tour trying to make it to every game. So over the past few weeks, SEPTA has been installing new bus signs.

as it gets ready to kick off phase one of the changes to the bus network. And so those changes are expected to come fully at the end of the month. I've already been starting to see some of the signs pop around with a nice sleek look. So it's exciting that it's finally real. This has been a long time coming. It's a relief to see it come to fruition because I remember filling out all the surveys and attending all the open houses back when this revamp was being dubbed a bus revolution. Remember that title? Oh, yeah, I remember that. And the revolt has taken a very long time. This has been years into making, but no. now we finally have this opportunity to modernize our transit system. And Siani, you take SEPTA a lot. So I'm really excited to hear your hacks and tricks on being like a pro septa rider in this like transition for the transit agency. Yeah, everybody knows I'm the resident non-driver on this team. It's okay. And listen, me and SEPTA are like this. And for our audio listeners, my fingers are crossed because we are besties. I literally have a like market frank for line cap. Oh, wow. That's how serious it is. You're one of those riders. You're one of those fans. I love to gift shop. But yeah, even though I've been on mic sharing like my ride share experiences, SEPTA has always been my go-to resource for getting around. And like all my schooling has been outside of my neighborhood. So I was able to expand my knowledge of the city through those daily commutes. And now as an adult, all my friends are spread out. everywhere across the city. So I have no choice but to take the bus. Sometimes that's a bus train and trolley to get to where they're at. So I love my friends dearly if I'm swiping that key card so many times in one day. But that's the norm. So how do you feel about some of these changes? And we'll talk about what some of those changes are. But like overall, how are you feeling about it as a frequent rider? For the most part, I feel pretty good about it. I think, you know, the one thing that's helpful is that it is being done in phases. So you're not trying to relearn all the new routes and stops and in some cases new names all in one go. I will say some of my most frequent. bus lines aren't being as heavily impacted. So the immediate effect isn't impacting me like some other riders, but there are some new ones. Like there's one new bus route that's going to be making us way down all the way to Fishtown. So I'm looking.

forward to using that in the future is all necessary because a lot of these changes are because of low ridership. You know, some may argue, but I use this line. I use it to get to the shops, which is, you know, very valid because that's been response to some routes like the 89 being eliminated. But we have to keep in mind that. ridership across certain lines is not going to look like how it once did five, 10, 20 years ago. Just in five years, we've seen how much things have changed, especially with how people are working and whether they're working from home or in the office and that impacting the frequency on the buses. And as density shifts neighborhood to neighborhood, that's also impacting rider frequency. And We also have to keep in mind how stuff does budget has been impacted by lack of funding or lack of stable funding 30 years. It relies so much from the state to get that funding. And it's been a sort of contentious issue, especially last year's state budget. Exactly. And part of that budget battle last year was, you know, the Pennsylvania GOP wanting to see more efficiency from SEPTA. So this is really an attempt from SEPTA show we're doing what we can to adjust the system, make it more efficient. Hopefully this might help increase ridership in the system. And we'll see where it goes from there. You know, unfortunately, you won't be able to please everybody. There are people who are going to be negatively impacted by this. same time, hopefully these changes can help alleviate some of SEPTA's other issues. Let's talk about some of the things that are actually changing. So there's going to be new symbols and icons to look out for. Roots that are shown in red, those roots will indicate that the bus, because right now we're talking about buses, that the bus will arrive every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays. And you're going to see that each bus route will be numbered inside of an oval. Like it's going to be like a white. that indicates that that route is a bus route. There's going to be new signs that will be reflective so that you can see the bus stop at night. There'll be more detailed information at stations like those digital screens, which I really love. They're really helpful because you get that real-time travel information. And you can read all of the other symbol changes and what the colors mean at septa.org. Also,

We did talk about some of the bus lines that are going to be either cut or added or expanded. So seven routes are going to be cut. That's the 35, 47M, 62, 78, 809, and 106. And if you are a rider who uses those lines, you should be aware that those lines are going to be cut. There's going to be added lines, the 72 on Sheltonham Avenue, between Frankfurt Transit Center and Cedar Brook Plaza, and the 76 along Columbus Boulevard between Rising Sun Loop and the Columbus Commons. And these bus routes, from what I understand, is to get people. access to more shopping plazas. And then some routes like the 45, 53, 60, 61, 79, 105, they're going to be adding some more stops. We're going to be in phase one on August 23rd. And then phase two is going to happen in February of 2027. And then phase three will be later on that year. And if you go to septa.org slash events, you can see a list of upcoming events on their calendar, which also includes when they're having the new bus network outreach. So they'll be out at public events, hosting these pop-ups to educate folks on what's happening. So there are upcoming talks on August 9th and August 15th. So check on their site when they're going to be near you. So you can be informed of these changes. The septa also said that they're going to still gather information. You know, they're really also looking into riders that have to take multiple bus routes or multiple routes, period. And, Gianni, you mentioned that you take a bus. All them transfers. A trolley. A air balloon at this point. Oh, my God. In 2024, I remember when SEPTA announced that it was going to change the names of some of their subway lines that sort of like look more similar to like New York City's metro subway system. And I've been a Philadelphia for many, many, many, many, many years. And I'll be honest. It threw me off because I'm going to still call the L the L. When I grew up, it was E L, Marker Frankfurt line. For the elevated line. Right, for the elevated line. But now for about what, two years now, it's been called just the letter L, which isn't like so different. What threw me off is when the trolleys, because I would. I would identify a trolley by their number. So like Route 10, Route 34, or I would say the 13th trolley, the 11th trolley, 36. Now they're like T1, T2, T3, T4, T5. And one time I was trying to get to two locals brewing. I was at 30th Street. I just needed to go a few.

stops. And I didn't know that I could basically take any of the T's, but stupid Google Maps was telling me and changing, oh, actually, no, take this one. Oh, no, actually take T. And I'm like, wait, what the hell this whole time? I wasted like 20 minutes waiting for a stupid T and I could have got on any of the T's. Anyway, it confused me. And for the longtime Philadelphians, the tea threw me off. And that's the T. But yeah, it's been a struggle. Like you said, Philadelphians will call everything by their old name, like the fashion district. I still call that the gallery. And it's going to be the same case when it comes to some of these lines. Like I refer to the L as the Market Frankfurt line, as I would say, I'm calling it by his government name. So here's the breakdown of what these changes are if you're still trying to get up to speed. So the Market Frankfurt line is just the L, the letter L. The Broad Street line is referred to as the B, keeping the color orange, and the local is B1, the Express is B2, and Broad Ridge Spur is B3. As for the trolleys, Route 10 is T1, Route 34 is T2, Route 13 is T3, Route 11 is T4, and Route 36 is T5. Right. T4 trolley, probably. Now, that does not apply to the Route 15 trolley. Which is a special type of trolley. So that one is referred to as to G. So it's kind of in its own division. Then if you take the media Sharon Hill line, the Route 101 is D1 and Route 102 is D2. And that's all under the D. I feel like D for Delaware County. Mm-hmm. And then last you have the Norristown High Speed Line, which is just referred to as the M1 for its local line. M is for... Montgomery County. So it's a little bit of alphabet soup still getting used to. So, you know, for some it might work. Others it isn't. I think we'll still call things by what we're introduced to them as. All I know is that this has been very hilarious every June because a lot of it shares letters with the LGBT community. So we have really great sub the Pride merch because of this. Oh, my gosh. I also, I hate that it like is similar vibes to like New York City subway system. Like, come on. Don't bring that ish over here. Part of the idea is to, you know, keep it sleek and easy to understand, especially when we think of all the, you know, tourists who come in, newcomers to Philadelphia who are playing a living here. But so you're saying it right there. You're saying it right there. Think about the new people. But like.

Why isn't that, like, why do you have to change something that we've known it to be, like that the locals have known it to be? I don't know. I don't know. I'll get used to it. I just can't get confused again by the tease. All right. Let's keep talking about this after the break. What is your, like, number one rule when riding septa? I feel like it always depends on what antisocial behavior is bothering me that day. Right. I think right now it's simply to just move. to the back or as far as you can on the bus. You're talking about when a bus gets crowded. It's probably during like peak hours before work hours, after work hours. And folks are just crowded so far up at the front of the bus. And even when you try to get on, you're like, can I get on? And then the bus starts moving. You're trying to brace yourself, holding on to one of those black straps hanging from the ceiling. It's crazy. Sometimes it doesn't even have to actually be full. Like you will get on the bus. bus and people are blocking the way and mind you there's no sense of thought to either move back or step off and step on what you can also do on the train people um but so then you're squeezing through them and they're looking at you like you're the problem when there's and then you go and then you see there's all these open seats. People are standing in front of seats. That's another thing I can't stand. And, you know, that causes a problem because it causes the illusion that it's full. And there have been instances where writers are waiting on a bus stop, but because it seems full, they can't get on. So people are being passed when it's like, no, there's space on this bus. People just don't care. It's a shame. Well, that also made me think of my biggest pet peeve when I do take a bus. Move your freaking bag. Oh my gosh. The bag doesn't need a seat. Hold your bag, put it in your lap so that I can sit down. I locked eyes with a woman one time. And it was my daughter and I, we were going to the library. And. I looked at her. I told my daughter sit in this seat, but I had to sit kind of further away from her because the woman that had the open seat next to my daughter would not move her bag. Pisses me off every time. This has become a new frustration for me, particularly on a regional rail, which I started to take more frequently recently because, you know, on the two sides, you have one side that is... technically a two-seater and another side is technically a three-seater. And my use of technically is on purpose because people will pretend that's not the case. And, you know, it's full right after the commute, after work, and people are struggling to find a seat. And, you know, the bag is the third person on that three-seater.

And again, you're trying to, like, you know, not be awkward, but at the same time, you need a seat. So it's just common courtesy that can go all around. Oh, the lack of common courtesy. Oh, like you mean when people are talking loud or listening to music without headphones. That's another pet peeve I have. I don't understand why people do that. It's like, guys, I do not need to listen to your TikToks at full volume. We do not need to make this a shared experience. And then I have a third pet peeve. And it's not really about like the other riders. It's when someone wants to leave the bus and they have to yell, Ayo, back door. And I'm like, why doesn't a bus driver or the technology, the sensors or something ever recognize the person wants to just get off? I think it's because people have in the past tried to sneak on at the back without having to pay. And so I think it's like it must be something where they're trying to like hold up a rider just in case that there's someone creep into the back. trying to sneak on. I don't know. I really don't care. Just open the freaking door. I hate when they have to, you know, be inconvenienced and be like, yo, back door. And God forbid, the bus starts rolling away and they missed their stop. And because the bus driver didn't hear them say, hey, yeah. No, back door. It's a struggle to get on the bus. It's a struggle to get off the bus. It's a struggle being on the bus sometimes. And I think another thing that needs to be improved is also enforcement regarding smoking. It feels like since COVID smoking cars have just become a regularity on the train. Like people smoking in the L. And smoking. everything under the sun that you can possibly imagine. Even like just the other day, I was on the L and there was a mother holding her small child who had at least been like one year old and had to tell this man to cut it out because there is a baby on board. And luckily he did. But it's like that's something that should not be happening in an enclosed space to begin with. And especially when you think how high the asthma rates are in this city. So that's one thing I wish. We can get a handle on because of smoking has gotten really bad. I have seen somebody smoke at 30th Street Station, like the L, like on the main platform. And the guy who was like cleaning up the septa station was like, yo, are you serious? He looked at her like, yo, like for real. Put that out. It's like no common courtesy sometimes. Yeah. So. Navigating septic can be a bit of a struggle sometimes as we establish. So some other tips that might help you out. Some may be obvious, but you just sometimes need this reminder. One, always look at your seat before sitting down.

Because there may be some suspicious puddles in there that you don't know what they're going to be. So save yourself to trouble, please, and look down. Also, like I said, when it comes to the smoking on the train or something else that's going down on the L, as soon as that train stops, just switch cars. There's a much more safer option than switching in between the cars as it's moving. Use the transit app. for the up-to-date scheduling. I'm also always looking on Septus site just to see when the next train or bus is coming, you know, any detours that is happening. Also, if you do see a safety issue, there is the transit police app. I found that really helpful. I have one. memory that happened a few months ago where it was a very unsafe situation that was happening on on the bus a potential instance of gun violence which luckily did not transpire but because there was that threat, I just snuckily took out my phone and sent a message through the app. So, you know, not drawing attention to myself making a phone call. And they were very immediate in their response and asking for further details. So that is definitely a resource I highly recommend having on your phone because you never know what's going to happen anywhere you go. And if you want to make sure you're not drawing attention to yourself, that's a way you can report something safely. And you know, I realized too, I feel like a lot of those situations I've experienced as well in my years of living in Philly on a trolley, on the L, on Broad Street line, on a bus, but not really on regional rail. I feel like regional rail is a completely different experience. It's more like calming at times than it is on the other forms of transportation. It's like you have to quiet cars. So that's like they really enforce that. You know, you're not, again, hearing those loud TikToks when you're on. Also depending what station that you're coming from. Like I'm just thinking about Jefferson Station, for example. Before that used to be all open, that waiting area. But now you have all the churn styles that you can't pass that until after you pay. And you have several septa employees assist folks because this is also a high volume area. for tourists as well who might need guidance on where to go. So that's also kind of impacting, you know, like who's getting on? People are, you know, actually paying for the fair and just kind of like regulating a system in a way you're not really seeing on the other septa platforms as much. All right. Not all things are bad on septa. We're going to talk about some of the perks that you can get with your septa key card. You can show your septic key card at 87. retailers, museums, restaurants, bars, and attractions here in the city. You can get free rental bowling shoes at Brooklyn Bowl, $10 off an adult ticket at the Arden Theater, and $2 off zoo admission along with so many other spots. Yeah, I had no idea the extent of SEPTA's perks program, even just looking this up for this conversation. I was like 87.

Also keeping in mind, some of these perks switch up over time so there can always be some new community partners who are making some offers on special deals. Like at Shib Sports, you can get 15% off. So I'm always looking for new sports gear because I love collecting caps, as you heard with me having my market Frankfurt line cap. So, you know, definitely take some time, go on stuff this website and see all that you have to offer. I know, like, with the FIFA fan fest that just happened, that was the first time I had used to Flash Bus, which, you know, you can get on for free by showing your key card. So that's like kind of handy, especially if you're in that like Center City area. And, you know, if you see it passing by and your regular bus isn't, like you might as well hop on that and get as close to your destination as possible. So I'm keeping that in mind for my future self. We can get free sprinkles on our ice cream at the Franklin Fountain. I'm all in. Their lavender ice cream hits. So now I know some free sprinkles to celebrate. And that's not all that your key card can get you. So if you live in Fishtown, you might get an added perk too. I just saw Trenay that septa's key advantage program, which for those of you listening who don't know, subsidizes rides for employees and university students typically. They're testing a new expansion. So this current pilot is with the Isaac, an apartment complex in Fishtown that's offering discounted passes to prospective tenants as a way to encourage them to use public transit that's basically within walking distance from their door. First of all, the Isaac is beautiful, modern. Not only could you get that perk, you're also going to get a rooftop deck, a fitness center, an elevator, courtyard, pet wash station, controlled access Bill Gates, and fetch concierge package delivery. So a space where you don't have to worry about your package getting stolen. Now, let's see how much this rent cost. Here we go. A studio apartment, 1350. A one bedroom, 1599. And a two bed, two bath, 2150. I mean, if you split that with someone, the rent is only 1075 for the both of you. And you get your own bedroom, you get your own bathroom, plus all those perks that I just mentioned. So I'm sure this is going to definitely entice somebody. We'll see how it goes. I mean, we've seen over the years more development along septus like Market Frankfurt line, you know, near the regional rail, trying to get...

people to live close to public transit. And, you know, if this is a success, maybe we might see this model happen at other apartment complexes and see if that boosts ridership in those areas. This is also a great reminder for folks to check with your employers to see if they are part of Decepta Key Advantage program. Like if you're an employee with the city of Philadelphia, that is something that is available. So definitely double check to see if you can get some. money shaved off of that morning commute. And one more added perk that isn't actually attached to their septickey program, subda also regularly hosts contests on their site too. I just got their email newsletter and saw some recent contests they had were to win tickets to a Phillies game and a Hillary Duff concert. Hillary Duff? Lizzie McGuire? This is what dreams are made of, Trane. Oh my gosh. Septa's always hooking you up, so you can take public transit to that Hillary Duff concert. Siani, thank you so much for joining me for this episode on how to be a pro septa rider. Thanks, Renee. See on the septa.

That's all for today here on CityCast, Philly. If you enjoyed this episode, please share this with a friend. Also, rate the show, leave us a review, and hit that subscribe button. Be sure to sign up for our morning newsletter to learn more about what else Philly's talking about. And don't forget, you can support our show and get great perks by becoming a citycastfili neighbor at membership.citycass.fm. We'll be back tomorrow morning with more news from around the city. Bye.