“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.
Today, February 4th is Rosa Parks’ birthday and across the country people are celebrating her legacy, and the legacy of other civil rights heroes that fought to desegregate transit, with a day of action called Transit Equity Day. You can get involved by thanking SEPTA workers as well as posting about what transit equity means to you and for Philadelphia on Twitter with #TransitEquityDayPHL2022. On this day of action we are highlighting some transportation news about equity and the importance of a public transit system that is affordable, reliable, accessible, and safe for all. You can read more about Transit Equity Day and its history here.
Pennsylvania Capital Star: Safe, Reliable, And Affordable Transit Is The Fastest Route To An Equitable Society – As the funds from Act 89 run out, transit riders and union workers call on the Pennsylvania Legislature to adopt the Transit for All PA! platform which would set aside direct funding for public transit. Good public transit, they point out, plays a vital role in creating a more equitable society, supporting Pennsylvanians across the state, and protecting our environment.
The Inquirer: No Lights, No Sidewalks: A Deadly Bus Stop Needs Big Improvements From SEPTA – Earlier this year 64 year old Angela Kee was killed in a hit and run crossing from a terrible bus stop at Cheltenham & Adams Ave. Bus stops like this one that leave riders stranded with no sidewalks or ways to cross busy streets make taking transit dangerous and inaccessible. Investing in sidewalks, safe crossings, and adequate lighting around bus stops is vital to making transportation an equitable and accessible way to get around the city.
WHYY: Before Rosa Parks: The Fight For Philly Transit Equity And The Black Women On The Frontlines – Revisit this article from PlanPhilly about Caroline LeCount and Octavius Catto’s fight to end segregation on Philadelphia transit and what their efforts mean for our modern transportation system.
Boston Globe: Lyft Makes Largest One-time Political Donation In Massachusetts History, Fueling Gig Worker Ballot Fight – In Massachusetts, Lyft is pouring money into a ballot initiative to cement drivers as independent contractors instead of employees so that they do not need to provide benefits and health care to workers. This fight comes after rideshare companies spent huge amounts of money on a similar initiative in California in 2020. We need an expansive public transit system that people can rely on to help reduce rideshare trips, and stop growing the wealth of companies that are environmentally unsustainable and reliant on underpaid gig workers.
Austin Monitor: Austin To Spend $65 Million This Year To Reduce Displacement Near Future Transit Lines – In Austin, city leaders are working to counteract potential displacement of residents near new transit stops by investing in affordable housing and supporting community-initiated projects. This comes as Austin is adding two new light-rail lines and four high-speed bus lines. Although the role of transit stops in driving up housing costs is debated, investing in existing communities helps to ensure that they are able to enjoy the benefits of the new transit system.
StreetsBlog USA: Pittsburgh Bridge Collapse Underscores Urgent Need For Fix-It-First Policy – The terrifying bridge collapse in Pittsburgh last week highlights the need for infrastructure investments before tragedy happens. Although luckily no one was killed, a Port Authority bus had to be rescued from the collapsed bridge, showing that dangerous bridges are not just hazards to cars traveling across them, but to buses and transit as well.
Image Source: Pennsylvania Capital Star.
