Letters, Colors and Symbols

To communicate clearly, we’ve developed a new, accessible vocabulary – letters, numbers, colors and symbols – that can be understood no matter who you are or what language you speak.

SEPTA's new line colors and symbols

Letters & Numbers

We know it’s always going to be the “Broad Street Line,” just like we say “Schuylkill Expressway” even though all the road signs say “I-76”. That’s fine with us. The point is to create signage that is easy to follow no matter who you are, what language you speak or how well you know SEPTA. Using letters, numbers and colors is about as easy as it gets.

We’re introducing letters for these lines and numbers to refer to their services. For example, the Broad Street Line is the B, while the local train is the B1.

Colors

We’re not changing what’s already working: we’re sticking with blue for the L [Market-Frankford Line], orange for the B [Broad Street Line] and green for the trolleys that run under Market Street. However, other trolleys – the G [Route 15] and the D [Media-Sharon Hill Lines] – will each receive a new unique color to avoid confusion.

Symbol Set

We’ve also developed a new set of related symbols to make messages easy to read at a glance, and to help non-native English speakers find their way.


L Market-Frankford Line

Brighter blue

brighter blue

B Broad Street Line

No change

no change

T Subway-Surface Tunnels

Brighter green

brighter green

G Route 15 Trolley

New color from green to yellow

new color

D Media-Sharon Hill Line

New color from green to pink

new color

M Norristown High Speed Line

Clearer purple

clearer purple


Example of signage showing that arrows and symbols are always on a black background for the highest contrast. Service information is on a color background. Signs show the service, direction and terminal station
Example of signage showing:

Arrows and symbols are always on a black background for the highest contrast. Service information is on a color background. Signs show the service, direction and terminal station.

Icons of a bus, escalator, information, elevator, no smoking and hazard symbol

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