SEPTA unveiled the name for its new express bus service coming to Roosevelt Boulevard: the Boulevard Direct Bus.

Technically, the Boulevard Direct Bus is a mere proposal—nothing set in stone—one of a half dozen studied by SEPTA planning staff in advance of this year’s annual service plan (ASP) process, which kicked off with a pair of open houses Wednesday. Every year, the authority reviews changes to its bus routes and train services, proposed by employees and customers. Out of the few hundred suggestions, only a few make the open house cut. This year, just six did, one more than last year, but way behind Fiscal Year 2016’s fifteen.

Two proposals will be familiar to dedicated PlanPhilly readers: Boulevard Direct and a proposed Route 49 bus to link Brewerytown and South Philly to University City. SEPTA introduced both ideas during last year’s ASP process, but neither was considered ready by the time the authority’s board voted in the fall.

In addition, SEPTA showcased four new proposed tweaks to bus routes in Montgomery and Bucks Counties.

DIRECT IMPACT

Even though it’s technically just a proposal, Boulevard Direct will become a reality sometime soon. SEPTA only needs to iron out the fine details, like obtaining formal board approval per the ASP process.

The new bus route can’t come soon enough, said Lee Wall. “It’ll be great for shoppers like me,” said Wall, who currently drives to the Neshaminy Mall to get in her shopping fix at Boscov’s. Currently, the bus takes too long to rely on, but the Bucks county resident said she would leave the car at home once Boulevard Direct began service.

Boulevard Direct will be an “enhanced bus service” running on Roosevelt Blvd. between the Neshaminy Mall and Frankford Transportation Center. SEPTA estimates that the eight-stop route would make the 10.8-mile trip in 34 minutes, significantly better than the 47 minutes local Route 14 buses currently take on average and only slightly slower than a car’s 26-minute trip.

The buses will run every 10 minutes during peak weekday hours and every 15 minutes around the rushes, slowing to 30-minute intervals after 9 p.m.