SEPTA will hold an open house tomorrow to begin a discussion with riders, stakeholders and the public regarding the Fiscal Year 2016 Annual Service Plan.

Proposals include changes to some routes and operating procedures, aimed at enhancing customer service and improving overall efficiency. In addition, there are two amendments proposed to SEPTA’s Service Standards and Process, addressing the definition of a Major Service Change, and guidelines for Fare-Sales Coverage.

Sessions for the Fiscal Year 2016 Annual Service Plan Open House will be held from noon-1 pm and 5-6 pm. On Tuesday, March 3 in the Board Room, Mezzanine Level, SEPTA Headquarters, 1234 Market Street, Philadelphia. Feedback from the Open House will be considered as SEPTA moves ahead with drafting the final Plan. Public hearings on the final Plan will be scheduled this spring.

Proposals under consideration for the Fiscal Year 2016 Annual Service Plan include:

• A split of the Route 23 into two distinct routes to address ongoing schedule adherence and loading challenges. The Route 23, with 24,000 average weekday riders, is SEPTA’s busiest surface route. Service stretches from Chestnut Hill to South Philadelphia, and through Center City. SEPTA is proposing a new Route 45 to replace the southern portion of the line, with the northern portion remaining the Route 23. It will be proposed that passengers needing to transfer between Routes 23 and 45 would be able to do so at no charge.
• Routes 25, 26, 73 and 84: Adjustments to the way buses enter and exit Frankford Transportation Center to improve convenience for customers.
• Route 53: This bus operates from West Mount Airy to Hunting Park Station. In response to requests from the public, SEPTA is considering an extension between 9th and G Streets to address transit needs on the growing Hunting Park Avenue Corridor.
• Routes 12 and 40: Extend the eastern end of these bus routes to better integrate service into future developments in the Penn’s Landing area.
• Extending either Route 31 or 32 from City Hall and Broad and Carpenter Streets, respectively, into Queen Village to address ridership demand.
• Route 64: Realign westbound routing from 33rd and Grays Ferry Avenue to 34th and Wharton Streets to eliminate a left turn at an intersection that can cause delays.
• Northbound Route 55 travels from Old York Road to Broad Street via 65th Avenue, an area that presents challenges for buses in snow, ice and other severe weather. This proposal would re-route buses from Old York Road to Broad Street via Stenton or Chelten Avenues.
• Route 98: Change terminus from Plymouth Meeting Mall to Blue Bell to provide additional service on Germantown Pike, which will shorten the trip for passengers traveling between Plymouth Meeting and Norristown.
• Realignments on Routes 105 and 106: Buses on Route 105 would travel via Haverford Avenue and Overbrook Park to provide a faster trip to Paoli; Route 106 would serve Malvern Loop, and trips currently ending at Cricket Terrace or Suburban Square would be extended to the Rosemont Regional Rail Station.
• Selected Route 119 trips would be allowed to use Chichester Avenue through Boothwyn and Linwood to provide new access points and a faster trip for riders.
• Route 128: Extend service on Street Road from Hulmeville Road to Richlieu Road to provide direct access from Croydon, Bristol and Levittown to Parx Casino. A lightly used section of the route on Hulmeville and Galloway Roads would be discontinued.
• Norristown High Speed Line: Service would no longer stop at County Line Station, due to low ridership.

For more information on these proposals, or to submit comments online, visit https://www.septa.org/notice/asp/2015-asp-open-house.html. Written comments can also be mailed to the SEPTA Service Planning Department, 1234 Market Street, 9th Floor, Philadelphia 19107.