Philadelphia's former Greyhound bus terminal on Filbert Street is set to undergo a major renovation, aiming to transform it into a state-of-the-art intercity transportation hub by 2026. The $13 million makeover will bring an end to the chaotic and disorganized operations that have plagued the current temporary location in Northern Liberties.
Since November last year, bus carriers like Greyhound, FlixBus, Peter Pan, and Megabus have been using a congested corner of Sixth and Market streets, which lacked basic amenities such as bathrooms, benches, and seating. The situation has left many passengers frustrated, with the city and the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) now working to create a more pleasant experience.
According to PPA Executive Director Rich Lazer, the goal is to build an "attractive, neighborhood-friendly" transportation facility that prioritizes cleanliness, safety, and maintenance. The new terminal will also provide improved access to major events like the 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026, which will attract thousands of visitors.
The move comes as a welcome relief for bus operators and passengers alike, who have been seeking better infrastructure and services for years. The city expects to negotiate agreements with carriers on usage rates that will cover the annual lease cost of approximately $13 million for the building.
Greyhound's departure from the facility was partly driven by the Philadelphia 76ers' decision to abandon plans for a new arena on the site, which has now been revived in partnership with Comcast Spectacor. The renovated terminal is expected to serve as an important part of the East Market Street corridor revitalization project, offering bus riders easy access to Reading Terminal Market, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and the mall.
To address traffic congestion in Chinatown, buses coming from the Filbert Street terminal will be deliberately routed away from the neighborhood. Several properties still owned by the 76ers are slated for redevelopment in the coming years, which could provide temporary space for events next year.
Local officials have praised the city's plan as an example of "people-centered urban design," promising to make Philadelphia's transportation network more connected and dignified. The renovation is expected to create a welcome change for bus riders and operators alike, providing a cleaner, safer, and better-maintained intercity hub for years to come.
Since November last year, bus carriers like Greyhound, FlixBus, Peter Pan, and Megabus have been using a congested corner of Sixth and Market streets, which lacked basic amenities such as bathrooms, benches, and seating. The situation has left many passengers frustrated, with the city and the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) now working to create a more pleasant experience.
According to PPA Executive Director Rich Lazer, the goal is to build an "attractive, neighborhood-friendly" transportation facility that prioritizes cleanliness, safety, and maintenance. The new terminal will also provide improved access to major events like the 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026, which will attract thousands of visitors.
The move comes as a welcome relief for bus operators and passengers alike, who have been seeking better infrastructure and services for years. The city expects to negotiate agreements with carriers on usage rates that will cover the annual lease cost of approximately $13 million for the building.
Greyhound's departure from the facility was partly driven by the Philadelphia 76ers' decision to abandon plans for a new arena on the site, which has now been revived in partnership with Comcast Spectacor. The renovated terminal is expected to serve as an important part of the East Market Street corridor revitalization project, offering bus riders easy access to Reading Terminal Market, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and the mall.
To address traffic congestion in Chinatown, buses coming from the Filbert Street terminal will be deliberately routed away from the neighborhood. Several properties still owned by the 76ers are slated for redevelopment in the coming years, which could provide temporary space for events next year.
Local officials have praised the city's plan as an example of "people-centered urban design," promising to make Philadelphia's transportation network more connected and dignified. The renovation is expected to create a welcome change for bus riders and operators alike, providing a cleaner, safer, and better-maintained intercity hub for years to come.
the greyhound terminal was such a disaster it's crazy they're doing $13 million renovation and making it an "attractive neighborhood friendly" spot 
i mean who doesn't want to visit reading terminal market or go to concerts at the wellington 
the traffic congestion thing in chinatown is gonna be good for the area tho 
hope they make sure buses run on time tho 
and making changes to make it more welcoming and safe. the fact that they're gonna create an actual hub with amenities like seating and bathrooms is literally a game changer 
can't wait to see how it turns out in 2026!
philly's old greyhound terminal is finally gettin a major renovation lol its like theyve been runnin out of luck since november last year when all those bus companies had to cram into that tiny spot on 6th and market 
no bathrooms no benches no seating just chaos! but now the city and ppa are teamin up to build somethin new and im lowkey hyped 
its gonna be an "attractive neighborhood friendly" hub with clean safe and maintained facilities lol sounds like a dream come true for all the bus riders out there especially during major events like the 76ers game 
and the 2026 anniversary celebrations cant wait to see it all go down 
. can't believe it took this long to sort out the chaos. i'm all for a clean and safe space for buses but it's gonna be great to have amenities like toilets and seating areas 
. hopefully they'll get some better air con in there too, been stuck in that stuffy corner with no breeze 
. plus, can't wait for the renovation to come and help revitalize the east market area 
. more events and shops would make it so much more lively! 
I mean think about it... this city was in disarray over the bus terminal 
! What's interesting is that people were suffering because of it, and that made everyone want change 
. The new terminal will be super user-friendly 
and take action to fix them 
It's good to see the city finally stepping up their game. But I'm wondering, what's gonna happen to all those buses just chillin' there for months waiting for the old terminal to get done? 
Are they just gonna be left stranded or will the new spot have some sweet layover facilities? 
And btw, does anyone think that new arena on the site is a good idea? I mean, I'm all about the 76ers, but it's like, what about the old terminal's users? 
the fact that it'll be more attractive and neighborhood-friendly will make me wanna ride buses more often i live in center city and it'd be so much easier to get around without having to deal with all the chaos out there. plus, the 76ers arena is getting built nearby and i'm hyped for all the events they'll have there 
let's hope this renovation goes smoothly and we can enjoy a better bus-riding experience in philly! 
I've seen those buses parked there with people just sitting on the curb, it's crazy! Hopefully they'll have some comfy seats & clean bathrooms too 
and getting rid of all the traffic congestion in Chinatown 
And what's with the city expecting bus carriers to pay that kind of rent? That's gonna be a huge burden on them, especially if they're already struggling to stay afloat. Not to mention, it's just gonna attract more tourists and commuters, clogging up traffic in Chinatown... I don't think this is gonna solve any of the city's transportation woes 
? Please, let's not forget about the history of this place and how it was abandoned by the 76ers' arena plans that never came to fruition. Can we at least acknowledge some accountability for the original mess before we celebrate this supposed "solution"?