“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.
As exciting events continue in Philadelphia, learn how you can get around to major summer 2026 events without a car, or being stuck in traffic with GoPhillyGo: Car-Free Routes Map!
WHYY: After SEPTA’s summer success, riders fear momentum could stall – This year’s state budget once again failed to provide dedicated transit funding, and advocates worry support and momentum could decline. Over 155,000 riders were moved by SEPTA to and from FIFA World Cup matches, and the agency rose to the occasion. Previous emergency funding diverted by SEPTA will expire in July 2027, which will result in a fiscal cliff without state intervention.
Billy Penn: Philly’s smart loading zones are a boon or a plague, depending on who you ask – Automatic camera systems on 23 blocks of Chestnut, Walnut, and Sansom streets in Center City have issues an average of 8,000 tickets per month, for unregistered drivers parking in smart loading zones. The zones are meant for commercials vehicles, and by registering and enforcing these vehicles, surrounding areas have seen a decrease in illegal parking and idling. Bike and fire lanes are more open, and pedestrians have clearer walkways. This represents an ongoing shift for the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) towards automated enforcement, with officers going through the images, verifying license plate scans, and if necessary, issuing tickets.
PhillyVoice: SEPTA to close 2 trolley lines this weekend to replace rails – Two trolley lines in Delaware County will temporarily close this weekend, and service will be replaced with shuttle buses through Sunday. Starting on Friday, sections of Landsdowne Avenue will be closed through Monday evening to vehicles. The D1 and D2 trolleys will be paused through Sunday, and bus Route 115 will also be detoured around the construction.
Other Stories
Mainline Times: Ardmore Rock N’ Ride celebrates 10 years, will also host state criterium finals
Metro Philadelphia: Pine Road bridge in Fox Chase to close through summer 2027
CBS Pittsburgh: New legislation in Pittsburgh removes loophole to prevent vehicles from parking on sidewalks
Mass Transit Mag: NJ Transit offers discounts, but not to these riders. That needs to change, groups say
Philadelphia Today: Century-Old Philadelphia Bridge Left to Decay as Preservationists Demand Action
PhillyVoice: Camden County bridge closes for 3 months to undergo repairs
Inside Climate News: In Philadelphia’s Chinatown, a Fight to Restore Funding for a Critical Highway Cap
“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 the Transit For All PA campaign for sustainable transit funding to keep our State moving forward.
Have a community project you want to fund and support? Check out the Public Space Enhancement Mini-Grant from Feet First Philly! Applications are due October 1st. The full list of requirements and further information can be found here.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pittsburgh Regional Transit turns to Pa. fund to avoid service cuts during budget impasse – Pittsburgh Regional Transit followed in SEPTA’s footsteps last week, requesting to withdraw nearly $107 million from the Public Transportation Trust Fund to avoid extreme service cuts and fare hikes. The move, which was approved, will allow the transit agency to continue functioning in a full capacity for the time being. Pennsylvania’s Public Transportation Trust Fund is typically intended for infrastructure investments, not operating expenses.
PhillyVoice: Philly airport shares its plans to spend $500 million on upgrades ahead of 2026 – The Philadelphia International Airport will see renovations before the end of this year, with planned upgrades to waiting areas, bathrooms, and increased signage in the airport and on nearby roadways. The airport has already been upgrading facilities in the past year, with local Philly eateries expanding into the airport’s restaurant space. A number of international flight destinations will also be added.
CBS News: Philadelphia starts removing loading zones on Spruce and Pine streets after court order – A court order has mandated the city to remove the loading zones that it recently installed along Spruce and Pine streets. The new loading zones were a result of a law passed this summer that made it illegal for cars to temporarily park in bike lanes; the loading zones were intended to provide a legal place for residents and delivery drivers to pull over and unload. Friends of Spruce & Pine, the neighborhood group that filed the lawsuit resulting in the court order, argued that the loading zones took away valuable parking spots.
Other Stories
CBS News: SEPTA service fully restored with fare increases after service cuts in Philadelphia region
CBS News: Speed cameras on Broad Street in Philadelphia go live in effort to curb deadly crashes
WHYY: Philly airport launches new logo, slogan in preparation for huge influx of 2026 passengers
Mass Transit: PennDOT approves PRT request to tap capital funds to cover budget shortfall
6ABC News: Philadelphia Cycling Classic to return in 2026 after 10-year hiatus
The Inquirer: Morale inside SEPTA, the Roosevelt Boulevard subway’s future, and other takeaways from our transit AMA on Reddit
