Philadelphia Relocates Megabus, Greyhound, and Other Carriers to Address Safety and Congestion Issues
Philadelphia city officials announced on Wednesday that the bus stop location for Megabus, Greyhound, FlixBus, and Peter Pan will be relocated from 6th and Market streets to Spring Garden Street and Christopher Columbus Boulevard starting on November 16. The move is intended to address safety concerns and congestion issues for SEPTA bus routes and daily traffic on Market Street.
The impacted bus carriers include FlixBus, Greyhound, Coach USA/Megabus, and Peter Pan. Peter Pan, FlixBus, and Greyhound will operate on the south curb of Spring Garden Street and either side of Front Street, while Megabus will operate on the north curb under the I-95 viaduct adjacent to the Spring Garden Station exit for the Market Frankford Line station.
City officials stated that the relocation will only be temporary through the first quarter of 2024. The move aims to mitigate congestion issues at the current location and improve the overall flow of traffic in the area.
SEPTA initially announced in August that their buses would be skipping the stop at 6th and Market streets to avoid congestion issues. Mike Carroll, Deputy Managing Director for the Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS), expressed concerns about the situation at 6th and Market Streets, calling it “completely untenable.”
Efforts are underway to find an off-street location for the bus operations, but the interim change in location is needed urgently. City officials also stated that existing parking might be cleared along Noble Street for more bus loading space, and the bike lane on the eastbound side of Spring Garden will be detoured.
The city is also coordinating with bus carriers to possibly offer customer service space, including ticketing in the loading areas. Updates on the relocation plan will be posted here.