SEPTA has recently embarked on a significant overhaul of its bus routes, replacing six out of the seven remaining lettered bus routes—namely G, H, J, L, R, and XH—with newly designated numbers: 63, 71, 41, 51, 82, and 81.
This initiative is part of an extensive project referred to as the ‘Bus Revolution,’ marking a historic update for the transit system that has relied on the letter designation for over a century.
Lex Powers, SEPTA’s director of information design, expressed optimism about the change, stating that this replacement “will go a long way to making the [transit] network clearer.”
The overarching aim of the redesign is to simplify navigation for passengers who utilize the city’s transit system.
While many Philadelphians have an emotional attachment to the traditional lettered routes, their apprehensions appear to be fading in light of the smooth transition.
Buses affected by the change will display both the old letter and the new number until the transition becomes more instinctual for riders.
Yet, as the city embraces this modernization, one question lingers: how did the mixed systems of lettered and numbered bus routes come to exist in the first place?
The current initiative has roots in a transformation process spanning over 60 years.
Throughout this time frame, SEPTA has carried out numerous changes, including the elimination of Route F in 1971, merging Route Q into routes 25 and 43 in 1985, and revising Route C to become routes 16 and 4 in 2012, all in an effort to enhance the overall bus system.
Despite the progress, SEPTA faced numerous disruptions along the way, including fare increases, public opposition, and budget constraints.
Powers emphasized the importance of this transition, indicating it offers a unique opportunity to reevaluate the bus route designations with a holistic approach as opposed to on-the-fly decisions.
The transition was largely uncontroversial, with most commuters understanding the reasons behind it.
According to Powers, an immediate benefit of the change is clarity in bus service identification—“when people see a number, they know it is a bus. When they see a letter, they know it is a subway or a trolley.”
Ultimately, the Bus Revolution seeks to streamline navigation within the SEPTA network through more intuitive route designations.
Similar patterns of adjustment in the mass transit system can be traced back to past initiatives aimed at improvement.
In 1920, the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company (PRT) raised service-related concerns with Mayor J. Hampton Moore.
A 1920 transit commission report indicated that the city’s transit service was grossly inadequate, threatening urban development.
In the following years, modernization efforts were initiated, including the launch of the Frankford Elevated in 1922 and the introduction of newly renamed trolley routes.
The transition included Route 6, once known as the Huntingdon and Cumberland Line, and which transformed into Route 15, known as the Girard Avenue Line, along with changes to many other routes.
Additionally, new transfer privileges were introduced to ease passenger transitions amid the revamped routes.
By 1923, trial runs of “Mitten” buses, named after PRT president Thomas E. Mitten, featured routes titled “Special,” aimed at enhancing capacity along Roosevelt Boulevard.
The success of these trial trips led to the designation of the first lettered bus, the A (Broad–Erie), in the same year, which received favorable reviews from the local media.
An article in The Morning Ledger from 1923 noted that the popularity of the boulevard buses indicated a positive reception from the public despite unfavorable weather.
Double-decker buses, both semi-open and closed on the upper level, were soon introduced, fulfilling PRT’s promise to ensure all passengers had seating available.
As the enthusiasm for lettered buses grew, the number of lettered routes expanded accordingly to differentiate them from numerical trolley lines.
By late October 1923, motorbuses were being endorsed as a favored transit option for Center City.
PRT noted the utility of motorbuses in alleviating congestion, particularly along busy Chestnut Street, and proposed an elevated roadway for buses to facilitate smoother traffic conditions.
In November 1923, the introduction of new lettered routes, such as the A (City Hall to Oxford Circle), B (Frankford to Byberry–Somerton), and others became a reality just in time for the holiday season.
Various organizations and local leagues, including the United Business Men’s Association and the Logan Improvement League, began advocating for the expansion of motorbus services, leading to the inclusion of more routes.
By 1925, the introduction of other routes connected different neighborhoods to public transit, including the K route from Fox Chase to Frankford and Chestnut Hill.
SEPTA continued to adapt its services, with many lettered buses’ routes eventually shortened or renumbered as part of the modernization trend.
Today, remnants of this history remain, such as an XA bus sign locked away at Fern Rock Station, symbolizing a past where extensive bus services were aimed at connecting communities.
As the bus network evolves, SEPTA’s commitment to clarity and user-friendliness drives its initiatives, paving the way for a more comprehensible transit experience.
image source from：https://hiddencityphila.org/2025/05/the-revolution-will-not-be-alphabetized-saying-goodbye-to-phillys-lettered-bus-route-system/
