The Hub 6/26/2020: 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.
The Inquirer: Philadelphia proposes $43 million Schuylkill trail extension to include bridge with scenic overlook – Philly wants to build a new 2,730 foot trail segment for walking, running, and biking along the river’s east bank between Christian St and 34th St. The Schuylkill River Development Corporation filed for a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers for construction of a bridge and some dredging of the river. Once completed, the Schuylkill River Trail will extend to Bartram’s Garden.
PlanPhilly: SEPTA to boost service on Regional Rail lines starting Monday – SEPTA plans to return service to all regional rail lines with the exception of Cynwynd and Chestnut Hill West. The Airport Line and the Paoli/Thorndale line will operate every 30 minutes on weekdays to allow for proper social distancing. SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards assures riders that SEPTA is committed to providing safe, reliable service as the city economy reopens.
Next City: Our Next Infrastructure Crisis: Broken Sidewalks –.Sidewalks are an essential though often overlooked component of any transportation network. Many cities have incomplete sidewalk networks in need of repair. Absent and broken sidewalks pose barriers to the elderly, disabled, and parents of young children. Many cities including Philadelphia have backlogs of sidewalk repairs because homeowners are responsible for repairs.
Smart Cities Dive: Transit agencies weigh security forces amid calls to defund police – As activists nation cxvwide are calling to defund police, some groups are focusing on transit police and it’s already working. Transit agencies around the country are freezing security budgets and restructuring officer’s responses and responsibilities. A new focus on helping those in crisis could go a long way toward making transit equitable and safe.
Image Source: Next City
