The Hub 5/7/2020: 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: Pandemic crushes Pa. highway toll revenue, jeopardizing $178M for SEPTA upgrades – With vehicular traffic at an all time low across the state, PA turnpike toll revenue is down 50%. SEPTA receives funds quarterly from turnpike revenue, which could be affected by this shortfall in the coming months. SEPTA is preparing for the shortfall by identifying which capital projects can be delayed.

Next City: Washington, DC, Just Made It Easier to Ride Transit, But Will Riders Return? – The Council of the District of Columbia now requires businesses who provide free or subsidized parking for employees to also offer subsidised transit passes. The DC METRO has seen massive ridership drops in response to the COVID-19 crisis, and officials hope this legislation will help give ridership a much needed boost.

Streets Blog: Don’t Let Mask Laws Become Another Way We Over-Police Pedestrians – Wearing a mask is an important part of stopping the spread of COVID-19. However, we must ensure that any enforcement of mask laws is equitable. Currently, there are inconsistencies in how mask laws are enforced, with some officers forcefully arresting perpetrators and others giving a gentle verbal reminder.

CityLab: Will Commuters Ever Go Back to Commuter Trains? – Suburban commuter rail has suffered greater ridership loss than any other transit mode as a result of the global pandemic. Many current commuter rail expansion projects across the country have been halted. When we move into a post COVID-19 world, our commutes will change. More people will work from home and more companies will stagger commuting times to avoid overcrowding. One thing’s for sure, peak rush hour ridership is sure to change as we move forward. 

Image Source: Plan Philly