Clean Air Council » pittsburgh regional transit

“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.

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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

BE SURE TO VOTE IN THE GENERAL PRIMARY ON MAY 19TH. Register to vote, request a mail-in ballot, and find your polling location here.

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!

CBS Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Regional Transit says success of NFL draft is “proof” why funding is needed – The NFL Draft was held in Pittsburgh this month, with over 800,000 attendees setting records for crowds. Traffic was feared to bring the city to a standstill. Pittsburgh Regional Transit offered a successful alternative. An estimated tens of thousands of people used the PRT football flyers and the light rail system. The agency emphasized park-and-rides, to avoid overcrowding and congestion near events. This was a unique set of circumstances, with Saturday service being offered during the week, and not something that will be immediately repeated. The success of the service offered can be a strong bargaining chip for fighting in Harrisburg for funding.

BillyPenn: Lawsuit stalls bike lane upgrade, but Philadelphia pushes ahead on loading zones – Philadelphia City Council approved legislation this week that would allow the Streets Department to create loading zones without needing to seek council approval each time. The zones would be for delivery trucks and other vehicles throughout Center City. This is an expansion of the smart loading zone pilot program, using camera-based systems to issue tickets to drivers violating parking restrictions. These zones create safer routes for cyclists, as delivery drivers will not be forced to park in the bike lanes. A court hearing on the proposed loading zones on Spruce and Pine is expected in early June, after the group Friends of Pine and Spruce sued to block the proposal.

WHYY: Philadelphia Parking Authority unveils renovated Filbert Street bus station – Bus riders will no longer need to board and depart buses on Spring Garden Street, with no bathrooms or shelter, left to face the elements. The $5 million renovated old Greyhound facility on Filbert Street is open to riders as of May 1st. Buses are redirected to Market Street to decrease congestion, and the project was completed on time and on budget, according to PPA head Rich Laser. The building is leased for the next 10 years, with a 5-year option to extend. City officials are still searching for a permanent replacement bus terminal, with hopes to better connect to 30th Street Station for rail access.

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