June 25, 2025
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
SEPTA has released two plans to improve the Erie Avenue corridor, a dangerous and traffic-heavy roadway.
SEPTA has opened a public survey for residents to weigh in on how one of the city's most dangerous and traffic-heavy corridors can be improved.
The Erie Avenue Transit First Study has been underway for just under a year and two plans have been proposed by the authority, with a final decision slated to be made later this year. One involves bus lanes being installed along the curb of Erie Avenue, which would include bump-outs for passenger boarding. Another option includes removing the existing defunct trolley tracks and installing a center busway, including an elevated platform for passengers to board.
The survey, available now on SEPTA's website, comes following an April report that found the Erie Avenue corridor between Old York Road and Kensington Avenue is perceived to have a "confusing layout," which contributes to unpredictable behavior, traffic buildups and increased likelihood of crashes.
The roadway is included in Philadelphia's High Injury Network, the 12% of city streets that are responsible for about 80% of traffic deaths and serious injuries. The transit authority found that over 250 crashes occurred on this corridor between 2019 and 2023, killing 10 people and seriously injuring 12, with a crash-per-mile rate 25 times higher than the citywide average.
According to SEPTA, bus service on the corridor is often slow and unreliable, with only 70% arriving on time. Bus amenities and existing facilities also fall short for the transit-reliant community. Of the 55 bus stops in the study area, only eight have shelters.
A final decision on the future plans for the roadway is slated to be published in December.
