“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.
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BillyPenn: Construction begins on new bike lane around City Hall – A new bike lane will appear around City Hall, thanks to bike advocates lobbying City Council to allow PennDOT to rearrange traffic lanes during a scheduled repavement. One car lane will be removed from three sides of the City Hall square to make room. The new bike lane, which will include flexible plastic posts to separate it from car traffic, is part of an effort to improve cyclist safety and calm congestion in Center City. Although City Council has not approved the bike lane yet, repaving is expected to start in two weeks.
PlanPhilly: Philly cyclists, commuters celebrate the reopening of the MLK Drive Bridge this weekend – The MLK Drive Bridge is officially open for the first time in over two years, following a $20 million rehabilitation project. The bridge opened to pedestrians and cyclists on Friday, after a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Cherelle Parker, and to vehicles on Monday. Renovations included adding a 10 1/2-foot-wide bike path alongside the vehicle lanes; in a further effort to keep the bridge cyclist- and pedestrian-friendly, the bridge will be closed to vehicles on weekends until November.
Mass Transit: NJ Transit board approves purchase of nearly 300 new buses to fully modernize fleet by 2031 goal – NJ Transit has approved the purchase of 26 zero-emission buses and 260 40-foot clean diesel buses, the last step in the transit agency’s goal to modernize its bus and rail fleet by 2031. NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri predicts that the new buses, which will replace the current aging 40-foot bus fleet, will enhance reliability, safety, and overall customer experience.
Other Stories
NBC10: MLK Drive Bridge in Philly reopens to pedestrians, cyclists and cars
North Penn Now: Lansdale: Main Street paving ‘moving along nicely’
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pennsylvania and other states scramble to plug transportation funding holes
The Inquirer: The MLK Drive bridge reopens to rave reviews from runners, bikers, and pedestrians
WHYY: Philadelphia tests out ‘cool pavement’ in Hunting Park to combat summer heat
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pennsylvania’s budget is nearly three months past due
