“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.
Join Transit Forward Philadelphia for events and actions to fight for transit funding and other wins in the City Budget. Attend City Council Budget Hearings, and learn how to advocate with Transit Forward Philadelphia.
Are you interested in improving the health and built environment of Philadelphia? The Nutrition and Physical Activity Team in the Health Department of Philadelphia is hiring a Built Environment Coordinator, and a Community Health Infrastructure Coordinator. Click the links in the titles to learn more about these roles and their impact!
BillyPenn: ‘Pop-up concrete’ event shows what bike lane protection on Spruce and Pine could be – Philly Bike Action (PBA) members set up their ideal bike lane protections, eight-in tall concrete barriers. Models made of cardboard were placed out on Spruce and Pine on Saturday, along with four pop-up stands, handing out coffee and pretzels for free, as well as information about safety improvements. The event’s goal was to highlight what proposed safety measures would look like and dispel common misunderstandings of cyclist and pedestrian safety initiatives.
The Inquirer: SEPTA will keep $2.90 fare for World Cup transit rides. Boston is charging $80 – There is no plan to increase the base fare of $2.90 for SEPTA riders on the Broad Street Line to Lincoln Financial Field for World Cup matches. This is different from other World Cup host cities in the United States. NJ Transit will be charging over $100 for the 18-mile train ride from NY Penn Station to NJ Meadowlands. Boston transit will be increasing its prices from $20 to $80. SEPTA will be handling demand by operating extra trains to support sports complex lines, but regular service hours and open stations can be expected. Additional buses are also being dispatched to serve the FIFA Fan Festival in East Fairmount Park from mid-June through mid-July.
The Philadelphia Tribune: SEPTA reports progress on crime, need for capital funding – SEPTA reported on Wednesday that the system has seen 51 consecutive months of rider growth. They also reported crime is down 30% for the first quarter of 2026, and fare evasion dropped 37%. Over the next decade, billions in improvements are planned, including new fleets for the Market-Frankford Line, trolleys, and regional rail lines. The New Bus Network will streamline bus service across the city, and these changes will result in 660 service hours to the system.
Other Stories
NBC: PennDOT crews to repair potholes on more than 35 highways in Philly region
PhillyVoice: NJ Transit unveils first of 40 new train cars expected to enter service this year
The Inquirer via MSN: Waymo robotaxis are helping cities map potholes. Could Philly be next?
PhillyVoice: Speed cameras activated on stretch of Route 13 in Northeast Philly
The Inquirer: Comcast Spectacor reveals new location for Sixers and Flyers arena
Amtrak Media: Amtrak Joins SEPTA to Celebrate Completion of Ardmore Station Improvements
NBC Philadelphia: SEPTA Transit Police welcoming four new K-9 recruits this spring
“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.
Join Transit Forward Philadelphia for events and actions to fight for transit funding and other wins in the City Budget. Attend City Council Budget Hearings, and learn how to advocate with Transit Forward Philadelphia.
Are you interested in improving the health and built environment of Philadelphia? The Nutrition and Physical Activity Team in the Health Department of Philadelphia is hiring a Built Environment Coordinator, and a Community Health Infrastructure Coordinator. Click the links in the titles to learn more about these roles and their impact!
The Inquirer: SEPTA wants to buy 247 new buses and install more fare evasion gates as part of proposed budget – SEPTA’s $1.84 billion operating budget for fiscal 2027 will be released next week. The budget represents only a 1.9% increase, despite rising inflation and labor costs. Compared to last fiscal year, riders will be pleased to see no service cuts and no fare increases. This is because of the state executive branch shifting funds around, after SEPTA was ignored in the state budget set by the legislative branch last season. Plans include a robust station cleaning program, new Transit Police officers, 247 new buses, and more evasion-resistant gates. Public hearings on the SEPTA budget will be held both at SEPTA headquarters and on Zoom, on 5/11, 5/12, and 5/13.
BillyPenn: ‘Just too onerous’: Getting bicycle racks in Philly should be simpler, advocates say – The current process of permitting and installing bike racks throughout Philadelphia is complicated, with too many requirements, according to members of the Philly Bike Action (PBA) group. About one-third of submitted bike rack applications were actually built from 2014 to 2024. Applications for bike racks have rigorous requirements, mostly due to right-of-way spacing rules, along with a $125 fee to apply. Right-of-way rules ensure sidewalks have an appropriate amount of space for pedestrians to move freely and for emergency responders to access spaces. The application also requires a site plan, which needs approval or to be provided by a state-licensed design professional. Philly could learn from other cities to streamline this process and encourage cycling throughout the city.
The Philadelphia Citizen: The Other Way Mayor Parker is Stepping Up for Transit – The H.O.M.E. bills introduced by the Mayor try to address a key factor in supporting public transit, land use rules surrounding stations. The bill aims to allow more multifamily buildings to be constructed near transit. Zoning changes include increasing unit density by 50%, adding one story of height, and cutting parking requirements by half. The current bill would also expand the law to increase from 500 feet to a quarter-mile radius from selected SEPTA stops. These changes emulate similar bills in comparable cities, Seattle, Chicago, and Austin, but are still a much smaller change in allowances.
Other Stories
Philadelphia City Council: City Council wants to hear from you! – Survey
6ABC: All security checkpoints reopened at Philadelphia International Airport
6ABC: ICE agents leaving Philadelphia International Airport
WTAE: Pittsburgh Regional Transit holding public meeting this week on Bus Line Refresh
SEPTA: Bus Service to Replace Trains Between Wilmington Station and Claymont Transit Center, Apr. 11-12
Bicycle Coalition: Remembering Teddy Einstein: A United Community Calls for Safer State Roads in the Region
National #WeekWithoutDriving is happening from September 29th until October 5th, and you’re invited to join the Clean Air Council!
We’re asking elected officials, community leaders, and anyone else to step into the shoes of the almost one-third of Americans who don’t drive. So many groups don’t drive – youths, people with disabilities, senior citizens, and those who can’t afford cars or gas, or just don’t want to – relying on public transportation, cycling, or walking to get around every day.
Week Without Driving highlights how car-centered public spaces ignore the needs and safety of pedestrians with infrastructure. We invite you to join us in this experience, whether you try not to drive for the entire week or embrace transit, walking, rolling, and biking for a few trips! Every effort counts towards creating a more connected and equitable world. If you’re already a non-driver, please encourage your friends, family, and your elected officials to go a Week Without Driving!
Transit Forward Philly is hosting a Week Without Driving Kick-Off event on Monday, September 29th, at 5:30 PM at their office on Walnut to learn more about the event, and meet mobility advocates from all over the city. Learn more about the event and RSVP here.
Clean Air Council is thrilled to once again be partnering with Indego for Cycle September, a month-long challenge to promote cycling in Philadelphia and beyond. If you’re not already a bike rider, there are plenty of reasons to get involved, and signing up is free and easy. Here are just a few reasons you should join the challenge!
1. You Can Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The best benefit to riding a bicycle instead of driving a gas-burning vehicle is that it saves greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. These gases are the ones baking our planet, making it hotter and more difficult to live on. Using your own body to power your transportation may sound like a small contribution. But transportation accounts for the largest portion of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, so it’s crucial that we take steps to address this impact as a community.
2. Every Little Trip Counts
Consider taking a bike to work, to school, to meet up with friends, to run errands, or just for fun! If you’re used to driving a car everywhere, you may be surprised how many of your trips could be completed on a bike. In 2022, the Department of Energy reported that 52% of car trips are for distances under 3 miles and 28% of total trips are to destinations under a mile away. You don’t have to go very far to make a difference!
3. Alleviate a Little SEPTA Mayhem
Did you know that before its funding was cut SEPTA kept 675,000 cars off the road? Thanks to recent punctures to the public transit system, car traffic (and the pollution it brings) is bound to increase in our region. Plus, reports show the cuts to SEPTA’s services have resulted in crowded buses, skipped stops, and long wait times. By biking, you’ll not only help lower local emissions, but you’ll also help alleviate some of the pressure on Philly’s “new normal” as riders adjust to fewer SEPTA routes and services. If you’ve previously considered hopping on a bike instead of the bus, now might be a good time to try it out.
4. Earn Exciting Prizes
For Cycle September, Clean Air Council and Indego encourage Philadelphians to take at least 5 one-way trips on two wheels. Once you’re registered for the challenge, you simply need to log your bike rides and you’ll be automatically entered into drawings for exciting prizes. Not ready to commit? Even if you take just one trip, you’ll be eligible for a swag bag giveaway from Go Philly Go!
5. You Don’t Even Need a Bike!
Don’t own a bike? Don’t worry, you can still participate in Cycle September. Indego, Philadelphia’s bike-share system, has over 250 stations throughout the city where you can rent a manual or electric bike and ride to popular events and places. If you’re taking part in the challenge, you can enjoy a discount on your first month with code INDECYCLE25.
6. Recreational Rides Count, Too
Can’t commute by bike? Work from home? Luckily, recreational rides count toward Cycle September! If you’re in need of inspiration, you can use GoPhillyGo to find accessible biking trails and exciting places to experience in Philadelphia. The mobile-friendly site has plenty of destination ideas and biking routes. Our favorite trips include:
- Take a ride along the river on the Schuylkill River Trail and stop by Fairmount Waterworks to view the falls. Take a break at the Cosmic Café and Ciderhouse or continue riding up scenic Kelly Drive.
- Parks on Tap is in full swing, bringing drinks and food to a different park location every weekend during September. It’s a great way to visit greenspaces throughout the city.
- Want to go a bit further out into nature? Take a ride on the Wissahickon Valley Park Trail.
By changing how you get around, you can lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve local air quality. Join Clean Air Council’s Cycle September challenge by biking instead of driving a car and you’ll be joining cyclists all over the city that are making Philadelphia more sustainable each day.
