SEPTA to Pilot Green Light Signal Program, Giving Buses Priority at Intersections
SEPTA plans to pilot a new program that will give priority to its buses at intersections with traffic signals. The program aims to improve the bus system’s speed and reliability for passengers.
The program will use GPS technology to allow SEPTA buses to receive extended green lights or reduced red lights when they approach intersections.
The pilot program, scheduled to begin later in 2025, will target 20 key intersections in the city between Callowhill and South streets and Broad and Sixth streets. SEPTA spokesperson John Golden told Philadelphia Magazine that SEPTA will concentrate on its 47 bus route, which runs north to south from Whitman, through Center City, and up to East Oak Lane.
According to Philadelphia Magazine, transit agencies in Boston, San Jose, and Portland, Oregon, have already been implementing the Transit Signal Priority technology developed by the California-based firm LYT. A spokesperson with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority confirmed that the program has reduced delays from red lights by more than 20% at three intersections in Boston.
“What we hope to see is improvements in the overall times because buses are moving more smoothly through these very congested areas,” said SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch in comments shared by BucksCo.Today. “We’ll see how the pilot performs and what the data looks like once we start getting it back. But there’s a number of routes that could benefit from this technology.”
