“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.
Week Without Driving started on Thursday! Join us in the nationwide movement to call for true mobility options for all Pennsylvanians. Take the Week Without Driving Pledge here.
Thank you to everyone who participated, the Pretzel Pedal Challenge is now complete! If you missed this year, you can still create a Share-a-Ride profile and earn points towards gift card drawings all year round. We’ll be back next with more prizes and experiences while cycling towards a cleaner and healthier Philadelphia!
Transit Forward Philadelphia: Drexel Students Share Their Transit Research – Drexel student Sydney Wieczkowski assessed the first phase of SEPTA’s New Bus Network and how it balanced transit efficiency and health equity in the region. When formulating the New Bus Network, SEPTA categorized existing routes as minority or non-minority routes, and low income or non-low-income routes. Sydney then analyzed the effects the proposed changes would have on each route. The research found that several minority and low-income routes could be disproportionately burdened by the changes. While the plan could benefit public health by improving access to public transportation and reducing air pollution, some route changes could create new challenges for riders, including longer walks or additional transfers.
The Conversation: What Philly can – and can’t – do to reduce the number of people killed in car crashes – Research has found that Philadelphians are killed in traffic crashes at much higher rates than comparable cities such as Chicago, Boston, and New York. Speeding and hit-and-runs occur at higher rates, and crashes are more likely to occur in dark conditions than the average in four peer cities. Data shows a 27% drop in fatal crashes in Philadelphia in 2025, and 2026 so far has been mirroring this. Automated speed enforcement cameras, such as the ones installed on Roosevelt Boulevard in 2020, have been associated with an 11% decrease in serious crashes. Similar cameras have been installed in other parts of the city, such as on Broad Street, with results still a few years away. However, other traffic-calming measures, such as increased lighting and pedestrian-focused infrastructure, are also needed to improve safety.
Billy Penn: Indego e-bikes dominate Philadelphia bike-share fleet – In July, around 75% of Indego bikes on racks were e-bikes, and some users are skipping them altogether. However, research has shown that while traditional bikes are healthier, e-bikes still improve aerobic fitness. In the first half of 2026, 72% of Indego rides in Philly were on e-bikes. Indego plans to add more traditional bikes to the fleet over the next two years to respond to demand.
Other Stories
PhillyVoice: Fishtown man is biking from Indiana to Pittsburgh to raise money for cancer research
StreetsBlog USA: Transportation Reform Has an Imagination Problem
CBS Pittsburgh: Parkway East and Parkway North seeing heavier traffic patterns lately, PennDOT says
Transportation Today: Pennsylvania begins work on more than 400 miles of “Rapid Deployment Projects”
SEPTA: SEPTA Bus Roadeo Brings Back Competition and Camaraderie
“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.
It’s the last week of the Pretzel Pedal Challenge! Log your bike rides during September to automatically earn points that qualify you for gift card drawing and prizes! Create a Share-A-Ride profile to join!
Week Without Driving starts next week Thursday, October 1st. There are a few events that Philadelphians can take part in during this week. Click here for how to get involved!
WHYY: SEPTA unveils wishlist for improvements and upgrades, but no sign of funding to make it happen – SEPTA released a list of goals and ideas in their “Accelerate” plan this week. Accelerate highlights the ideal future for SEPTA if there was a more reliable funding source from the state. Accelerate focuses on a few main ideas: increasing the number Philadelphians served with frequent transit, increasing the number of accessible stations, and connect more jobs in the city with frequent transit. The lack of dedicated funding sources has stalled long-term improvements to the system.
WESA NPR: Pittsburgh transit advocates call for bolder plan, ask riders to weigh in on bus line update – Pittsburgh’s Bus Line Refresh, a cost-neutral plan, will rework service to improve and boost ridership. Routes with low ridership are in danger of being cut, but transit advocates warn against cutting people off from service. Pittsburgh Regional Transit faces a fiscal cliff at the end of this state budget year without a dedicated funding source from the PA Legislature. Comments are requested to improve the plan by September 30 and can be submitted here.
The Inquirer: SEPTA got 24 commuter trains from Montreal, but it could be months before you can ride one – SEPTA purchased surplus train cars from Montreal’s transit system, and they have arrived in PA. The cars are in Malvern for some modifications before joining the Regional Rail fleet late this year. SEPTA avoided paying the estimated $3.5 million extra in tariffs after research showed U.S. Customs and Border Protection that the cars were not subject to import duties.
Other Stories
Transit Forward Philadelphia: We Rode Transit for 24 Hours!
Philadelphia Today: Roosevelt Boulevard Gets $134M in Upgrades as Subway Debate Continues
Philly Tribune: SEPTA’s new bus network drives ridership growth across city
“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!
Register now to join Transit for All PA! for a statewide call on Wednesday, August 19th from 6-7 PM. Join to discuss how transit riders and transit advocates can win funding for transit in 2027. Register here!
Transit 4 All PA is hiring fellows, with two paid positions in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties: to support transit advocates in building local demand for transit. If you live in Luzerne or Lackawanna County, and you ride transit, apply TODAY. Application closes on September 2, 2026. Learn more here.
Metro Philadelphia: SEPTA’s 11th Street Station closing for major accessibility upgrades – Beginning early September, the Market-Frankford Line will be skipping 11th Street for around a year. The station will be closed though the end of August of 2027, according to SEPTA. Plans include building two elevators, improving lighting, and structural repairs, making the station fully ADA compliant as part of a $44 million project. Other than 11th Street, the 34th Street and Spring Garden stations are the only remaining inaccessible, with future plans to construct elevators at both.
WHYY: SEPTA celebrates new Navy Yard bus service in the rapidly changing Philadelphia neighborhood – The Route 45 bus travels from Center City to the Navy Yard, simplifying a route that many commuters and riders previously relied on a shuttle bus transfer for. This change is part of the New Bus Network, which began in phase 1 this month. The planned goal is to consolidate routes and adjust service for riders.
Northeast Times: Self-driving SEPTA buses unlikely soon, but a state bill aims to prepare – State Representative Ben Waxman, representing House District 182, which includes parts of Center City and South Philadelphia, has introduced a bill that bares completely autonomous transit vehicles. The bill would require transit vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds and using an automated driving system to have a licensed driver on board. SEPTA has announced no plans to introduce autonomous buses, but Representative Waxman said he discussed the proposal with SEPTA officials.
Other Stories
The Inquirer: Self-policing loading zones have worked in Center City, the PPA says, so they’re adding more
Northeast Times: Bridge Street ramp to I-95 closing permanently this month
PhillyVoice: Walnut Street will go car-free for seven Sundays this fall
Philadelphia Today: PennDOT Launching $2 Million Repair Project on Historic University Avenue Bridge
CBS Pittsburgh: Tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike will increase in 2027. Here’s how much more drivers will pay.
“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.
Are you in the Lehigh Valley area or the Lancaster area? Please take a transit survey from Transit For All PA, to help us better understand transit needs for users in the area. Lehigh Valley survey link and Lancaster area survey link.
Keep Paratransit and Shared-Ride moving by signing onto this organizational letter!
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Advocates push for transit funding for rural, disabled communities as Pa. budget talks build – Transit for All PA! gathered transit advocates, riders, workers, and supporters from across Pennsylvania for a day of action in Harrisburg this week. Speakers called for a new funding model, one that’s more sustainable, secure, and supportive for transit options that cover rural and disabled communities. Shared-ride and paratransit services must be provided due to the Americans with Disabilities Act, but without dedicated funding, these services are slated to disappear in Pennsylvania. Sign on to support Transit For All PA!’s movement here
WHYY: SEPTA board approves budget and bus route changes – The New Bus Network won final approval late last week, with the agency launching new routes and more frequent service throughout Philadelphia. There will be a phased rollout of the new plan in August, with a massive education campaign underway during the summer as well. The agency plans to have staff at 3,000 locations to educate riders about upcoming changes and how it affects them.
WPXI Pittsburgh: Riders urge Pittsburgh Regional Transit to rethink bus line cuts – Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) is being urged by transit advocates to adjust their upcoming bus line cuts. PRT has announced plans to cut 14 routes and add 9 new ones. The plan has received more than 25,000 comments on the draft so far. Advocates say that certain areas are being cut off with this new plan, disproportionately affecting families, low-income residents, and people with disabilities.
Other Stories
Philly Voice: Philly Pride March: Here are the road closures and parking restrictions in place for Sunday
Metro Philadelphia: Philadelphia unveils major highway beautification project ahead of America’s 250th
Philly Voice: Plan to ‘fix’ gridlock at Sports Complex includes AI-powered traffic signals
Grid: Cyclist maps bike path from 30th Street to Atlantic City
CBS Philadelphia: SEPTA reopens long-shuttered South Broad Concourse in Center City Philadelphia
The Inquirer: Philly plans to install 800 electric vehicle chargers in the next 10 years
CBS Philadelphia: Attendees say Open Streets: Midtown Village in Philadelphia should become permanent after first night
“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.
Follow Transit Forward Philadelphia for events and actions to fight for transit funding.
Transit Forward Philadelphia: SEPTA Has Released the New Bus Network Plan – Here’s What You Need to Know – SEPTA announced this month that a total bus system redesign will begin, with changes starting in August 2026. The redesign will include adjustments to routes and schedules, with changes needing to be communicated via social media and physical announcements at transit stops, on buses, etc. Service improvements will be funded with efficiencies created by the system itself. Setting up a source of sustainable funding will also avoid future fiscal cliffs or uncertainty. Some changes are being celebrated by transit advocates, while some adjustments are leaving riders with longer travel times and more transfers needed for routes. Public feedback and communication from SEPTA are both critical for the New Bus Network Plan’s success, and there will be a public open house on April 15th.
BillyPenn: New digital SEPTA displays will bring real-time information to riders – This spring should see live updates for riders on some bus and trolley lines, according to SEPTA. SEPTA’s new pilot program puts 10 “e-paper” displays live on bus or trolley stop poles. The devices will be small enough to be mounted on bus or trolley stop poles, and will use solar power. These are part of a larger initiative to modernize and simplify SEPTA service. Riders can expect to see them at sunny bus and trolley stops in May.
NBC Philadelphia: Philly Love Run Half Marathon and 7k: Closures, parking and SEPTA changes – This Sunday, the Saucony Philly Love Run Half Marathon and 7k will attract more than 15,000 runners to Center City. Street closures at and around the Museum of Art will be in place from 3:00 am until around 1:00 pm on Sunday, 3/29. Parking restrictions will also be in place. Several bus routes will also be detoured on Saturday and Sunday of this weekend, in the Center City and Old City areas. Live detour and route updates will be posted on SEPTA’s website.
Other Stories
WHYY: Philadelphia No Kings protest 2026: what to know
City & State Pennsylvania: As TSA staffing crisis deepens, Philadelphia International Airport lines get worse
6ABC: Uber Eats debuts autonomous sidewalk delivery robots in Philadelphia
WBNG (Harrisburg, PA): PennDOT seeks feedback related to winter services
Metro Magazine: Amtrak Sets New Course for Long-Distance Fleet Renewal
Bicycle Coalition: Learnings from the 2026 Vision Zero PHL Conference
SEPTA: Bus Service to Replace Trains Bridgeport Station to Norristown Transit Center, Mar. 29 – May 9
“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.
Follow Transit Forward Philadelphia for events and actions to fight for transit funding.
The Inquirer: Remember SEPTA’s plan to redo bus routes? It’s back and it’s happening (for real this time) – Over the next 18 months, SEPTA will implement the redesigned bus network that was shelved last year. The route revisions are mostly the same as what the SEPTA board approved in May 2024, with the full list found here. Changes will be implemented in phases, after the board votes on the plan in May. Over the 18 months, 18 bus routes will be cut, some routes will have increased frequency, and no bus stops will be moved.
City of Philadelphia: City Announces Road Closures, Parking Restrictions and Other Details for the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade – The city has announced road closures following the parade route. The parade begins at 11:15 AM on March 17th, starting at 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard. The following SEPTA bus lines will be detoured: 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 44, 47, 48, 61, 124 and 125. Parking restrictions will also be in effect. Attendees of the parade are strongly encouraged to take public transportation to and from the event.
WHYY: SEPTA riders rally at City Hall to preserve free-ride programs in new budget – Groups and representatives from across Philadelphia gathered at City Hall last week, to advocate for two programs funded by the City. The Zero Fare program funds SEPTA cards for almost 70,000 Philadelphians, and the Municipal Key Advantage Program also provides transit for around 13,000 city workers. Speakers included transit advocates, union leaders, council representatives, and zero fare recipients. Transit access is critical for access to healthcare, education, jobs, and community, especially for the recipients of zero fare, who are the most vulnerable. The city spends about $9 million on the Key Advantage Program and Zero Fare adds another $20 million, and Philadelphia’s operating budget for fiscal year 2026 is around $6.84 billion. The programs were included in the budget as announced by the mayor on March 12th.
Other Stories
City & State Pennsylvania: Philly Mayor Parker’s $7B budget – by the numbers
PhillyVoice: Security checkpoint at Philly airport closed due to TSA staffing shortages
Philadelphia Today: A Decade In, How Far is Philadelphia From Its Vision Zero Goal of Eliminating Traffic Deaths By 2030?
PhillyVoice: Center City expands Open Streets program to 20 car-free days this year
SEPTA: St. Patrick’s Day Parade Bus Detours, March 15
BillyPenn: Philly’s bus station needs a permanent home; questions loom about Filbert Street, ICE office, Amtrak
