The Hub 4/3/2020: 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.
PlanPhilly: ‘If you don’t have to ride, please don’t’: SEPTA, PATCO further reduce service – SEPTA management has greatly reduced service across the system in light of reduced ridership during the COVID-19 crisis. The agency implores people to follow the stay at home orders from the state and city governments, and only ride when absolutely necessary.
The Inquirer: As trail use soars, groups push opening some Philly streets to just walking, biking to help keep space – As we are all social distancing, demand for space on trails and sidewalks is high. Pedestrian advocacy group, Feet First Philly, is gathering petition signatures to open certain streets to walking, biking, and running, closing them to vehicle traffic. This would make it much easier for people to responsibly exercise or or access essential businesses while following social distancing guidelines. Sign the open streets petition here!
Next City: COVID Relief Bill Grants Transit’s Wish — But Some Say Still More Will Be Needed – With public transit use plummeting during the COVID-19 pandemic, many transit agencies are increasingly strapped for cash. The CARES bill, the federal COVID relief package, includes $25 billion in capital grants for transit agencies. New York City alone is estimated to require $6.5 billion to survive depressed ridership. Many agencies worry that there won’t be enough funding to stay afloat.
Smart Cities Dive: NACTO resource hub tracks COVID-19’s impact on transportation – The National Association of City Transportation Officials created the Transportation Response Center to help cities develop best practices for keeping transit riders safe and mobile during the COVID-19 crisis. Recommendations include contactless backdoor boarding on all vehicles and closing certain streets to allow more space for pedestrians and cyclists.
Streets Blog: Five Reasons Why Trump’s Fuel Standards Rollback is Terrible – The current presidential administration has sought to slash the Obama era fuel standard increases almost from Trump’s first day in office. During the economic anxiety the nation is facing, it appears he may do just that. The previous administration’s increased fuel standards do increase the initial cost of a vehicle, but the savings are seen at the pump.
Image Source: Plan Philly
