The Hub 10/27/2023: Clean Air Council’s Weekly Round-up of Transportation News
“The Hub” is a weekly round-up of transportation related news in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Check back weekly to keep up-to-date on the issues Clean Air Council’s transportation staff finds important.
The Inquirer: SEPTA workers might strike soon. It wouldn’t be the first time – SEPTA workers plan to strike if an agreement between Union Local 234 and SEPTA is not met before October 31st at 11:59pm. Tragically, a SEPTA bus driver Bernard N. Gribbin was fatally shot on Thursday, October 27th . Mr Gribbins death comes at a time where union leaders cite safety as a central issue to their members. SEPTA and the union leaders have postponed their discussions surrounding public safety which caused the board meeting to be postponed. SEPTA has experienced multiple strikes in the past, the last one by TWU Local 234 was in 2016 for six days, and their main issue was retirement benefits.
The Inquirer: You can take Amtrak to NYC for $19 under new pricing structure – Amtrak recently introduced a new fare structure which will now offer two kinds of ticket options for seats. Options include the ‘Flex’ option which is fully refundable and the ‘Value’ option which is cheaper but offers less flexibility. This new structure allows riders from Philadelphia to New York to pay as low as $19 using the ‘Value’ option or $21 using the ‘Flex’ option. These prices are cheaper than the previous fare structure.
WHYY: New Castles County’s ‘100 EV Plugs Plan’ advances clean transportation and economic growth – New Castle County’s 100 EV Plugs Plan aims to install over 100 electric vehicle charging points throughout the county. In the coming weeks four more EV chargers will be installed at libraries. Overall, EV chargers will be at libraries and parks to make them more accessible. This project is partially funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will help to advance clean transportation and economic growth in the county.
Other Stories
The Inquirer: How to navigate SEPTA if a strike shuts down city buses, trolleys, and subways
The Philadelphia Tribune: Philly passes law to enforce bus lane violations with AI cameras
Transportation Today: Sen. Fetterman introduces bill to strengthen FTA emergency response
Grid: Truck traffic pollutes Philadelphia’s most vulnerable neighborhoods
StreetsBlog USA: How Air Pollution Intersects with Unsafe Streets
