“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!
The Inquirer: SEPTA gets $13.3 million from D.C. for new Silverliner Regional Rail train cars – A $13.3 million federal grant is going to SEPTA to help replace the 223 Silverliner IV train cars that were pulled from service last year. After being in service for half a century and several fires, the train cars were pulled for safety inspections and repairs. The grant is part of the Rail Vehicle Replacement Program, and work will begin in the Fall. 234 new cars will be built, at an estimated cost of $2 billion.
ABC 6: More than 330K drivers ticketed along Broad Street since speed camera enforcement began: PPA report – Speed cameras have been capturing driver data along Broad Street since November 2025 at 15 locations. Drivers exceeding 11 miles over the speed limit are fined starting at $100, and the Philadelphia Parking Authority released a report on violations through March 2026. In total, more than 330,000 drivers were ticketed along the Broad Street corridor.
CBS Pittsburgh: $82M in federal grant money will help Pittsburgh Regional Transit purchase new light-rail vehicles – Pittsburgh Regional Transit is receiving over $82 million in grant funding. The funding will be used to purchase new vehicles for the light-rail system, the “T.”. 45 new vehicles will be replacing old cars on the T, and will feature a more modern interior and on-vehicle wheelchair lifts.
Other Stories
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Lawmakers wrestle with the proliferation of e-scooters on Pa. roadways
WHYY: Philadelphia Cycling Classic returns, reconnecting fans and cyclists with longtime traditions
The Inquirer: New speed cameras in West and North Philadelphia will start warning drivers on Monday
WPXI: Bicyclists flock Pittsburgh’s streets for 33rd annual Pedal PGH fundraiser
Pittsburgh City Paper: Lawrenceville’s guerrilla crosswalks are a white-striped call for change
Philadelphia Today: IBX Partners with Philly Bike Ride for One of the City’s Signature Fall Traditions
“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!
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.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Additional Amtrak passenger train service to and from Pittsburgh to begin in mid-November – A second daily passenger train will be running between Pittsburgh and New York, via Harrisburg and Philadelphia. The train will begin running in mid-November. Ridership on Pittsburgh to Philadelphia trains exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 2024, with nearly 234,000 passengers.
The Inquirer: The return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic will close roads – This weekend the Philadelphia Cycling Classic is back, utilizing the original route of the Ben Franklin Parkway to Kelly Drive. Road closures will start on Saturday and continue into Sunday. SEPTA routes that travel through Manayunk and Roxborough or on Kelly Drive will be detoured.
Metro Philadelphia: Open Streets returns to Center City for 7 Sundays of car-free fun this fall – Center City is bringing back Open Streets: West Walnut, for 7 weekends this fall. Starting September 13 through October 25, along Walnut Street between Broad and 19th Street, and 18th Street between Chestnut and Locust, will close to vehicles from 7 AM until 6 PM. Open Streets will run from 10 AM until 5 PM on Sundays. Businesses along the closure routes reported an average 59% increase in foot traffic, and 37% increase in sales.
Other Stories
WHYY: Market Street Bridge closed to cars for a year as part of a nearly $150 million upgrade
The Inquirer: Lower Merion has issued more than 600 violations from red-light cameras since mid-July
StreetsBlog USA: Philadelphia Figured Out to Stop Double Parking — Will Other Cities Follow Suit?
The Inquirer: New trail connector lets bikers ride 70 miles from Philly to Reading. It’s ‘a really, really big deal.’
CBS Pittsburgh: Signs for upcoming PennDOT projects causing concerns for drivers, but impacts won’t be long-lasting
Philadelphia Today: Philadelphia Named Finalist to Host 2028 Democratic National Convention
“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
As we approach the new year, many of us like to think of resolutions for the coming months. Clean Air Council would like to recommend adding composting to your new habits for 2026. This blog post will provide you with what you need to start composting in your own backyard.
If you’re located in Clairton, Braddock, North Braddock, or Swissvale, PA, and are interested in getting involved with a local composting effort in your community, fill in our contact form. The Council will be distributing more FREE compost bins to households and community centers in the new year. Fill out the form now to apply for yours!
On the 12 days of Compost my true love gave to me…
- A pear core in a compost heap
To get started with composting, you’ll need access to a compost bin or heap. Whether you prefer composting in an open pile, a multi-stage bin, a worm composter, or a tumbling bin, make sure to have an area or a container for this purpose.
- Two turning shovels
Other equipment you might want to consider for your composting needs include a shovel or pitchfork, a kitchen countertop bin for collecting your kitchen scraps, and a thermometer to keep track of the health of your compost pile.
- Three friendly worms
While vermicomposting is its own ecosystem altogether, compost bins of most kinds will benefit from having some friendly earthworms in the mix, breaking down your compost waste quicker and more efficiently. You can buy red wigglers to add to your bin, or you can wait for them to naturally turn up in an open-bottom stationary bin.
- Four carbon browns
It’s important to know what can and cannot be composted. One crucial element to add into your pile is browns, or carbon-rich materials, like dry leaves, straw, or plain shredded cardboard.
- Fiiiive nitrogen blends
The second essential material to add to your bin is greens, or nitrogen-rich materials, such as grass clippings, fruit peels, or coffee grounds.
- Six scraps a-layering
Adding greens and browns to your bin, make sure to layer them to the best of your ability to ensure the two types of materials mix together well. This will kickstart the biodegrading process and offers microbes, bacteria, and fungi ideal conditions to get to work.
- Seven heaps a-heating
It’s very important for your pile to achieve a high enough temperature in order for your compost waste to mature into nutrient-rich compost. You can track this by using a compost thermometer – very similar to the meat thermometer you might use for cooking your Christmas meal.
- Eight neighbors sorting
Composting can be more fun and efficient if you team up with your neighbors! Maybe one of you has a bigger yard with ample space for a compost bin, but is lacking enough greens. Recruit the vegetable-loving family of four across the street to donate their scraps to an effort to create you both organic, home-made compost.
- Nine bins a-breathing
It’s also essential for the microscopic friends in our compost bins to have enough oxygen to break down matter effectively. Help them by turning or mixing your compost pile regularly, ideally once a week or two.
- Ten drops a-dripping
In reality, you don’t want your compost bin to be soggy – the texture of your compost should resemble a wrung-out sponge. If the bin gets too wet, add more browns and mix well.
- Eleven leaves degrading
Ensuring all these conditions are met, composting will be a breeze and you’ll help divert waste from landfills to save you money in the garden instead!
- Twelve gardens growing
The final result is fresh, earthy compost for your garden beds, potting mixes, and lawns. The best part is that you get to share these results with your neighbors and community, creating a healthier environment for us all.
In celebration of Earth Day, Clean Air Council will be tabling and/or in attendance at the following events. We hope to see you there!
Environatal Day at Bartram’s Garden | April 17th 10-2pm
Join Nature Momz at Bartram’s Garden for an organized group walk along the trail to discuss maternal health, air quality, and the impact of the environment on mothers and infants. Free to all and no registration is required.
In partnership with the Philadelphia Regional Center for Children’s Environmental Health, Clear Air Council, Nurturely and a Place for Ummi Maternity Care.
Spring Fest at Bartram’s Garden | April 19th 10-2pm
Join Bartram’s Garden for their annual spring celebration! Activities will include a guided tour of the Garden’s 19th-century flower garden, a youth-led block printing activity, hands-on natural dye activity, an annual plant sale, and so much more. Clean Air Council will be tabling at the event, so stop by to learn more about the smoke contamination issue at Bartram’s Garden.
SEPTA’s Earth Day Celebration | April 21st 11-2pm
SEPTAs Sustainability Department is hosting its annual Earth Day Expo. Check out SEPTAs Zero Emission Fuel Cell buses, learn more about SEPTA’s sustainability practices, and visit Clean Air Councils table to learn more about our transportation programs.
Earth Day Expo at Temple University | April 22nd 11-3pm
Join the Office of Sustainability and TSG Sustainability Committee for an Earth Day Expo to learn more about sustainability on campus through student involvement, departmental research, and action plan development. Clean Air Council will be tabling at the Expo, so stop by to learn more about the Council’s transportation programs.
Swissvale Community Garden Earth Day Cleanup | April 22nd 6-8pm
Join the Swissvale Community Garden to help clean out garden beds and prepare for the growing season. Clean Air Council organizers will be in attendance to discuss our composting program and how to start composting.
Mt. Lebanon Earth Day Event 2025 | April 27th 11-3pm
Join us for live music, vendors, henna art, yoga classes, a kids bike course, and so much more at the Mt. Lebanon Earth Day Event. Stop by Clean Air Councils table to learn more about our programs in Southwest Pennsylvania.
PennDOT released its annual transportation survey for all Pennsylvanians to complete. The survey asks participants about their transportation habits, what type and how they use transportation, and what improvements they want and how they want PennDOT to invest in the future.
Your feedback will be an important part of PennDOT’s 12-year Transportation Program update process along with other state and regional transportation plans. Sustainable modes of transportation are the best for the environment. Clean Air Council supports active sustainable modes of transportation. For more information on how to complete the survey, please visit https://bicyclecoalition.org/penndot-transportation-feedback-survey/.
Washington, D.C. – A coalition of clean air advocates filed a federal lawsuit against the EPA
yesterday demanding stronger rules to reduce hazardous air pollution – including cancer-
causing benzene – from steel industry coke oven plants across the country.
Coke oven plants, located in Western Pennsylvania, Northern Indiana, Alabama and a dozen
other locations in the U.S., superheat coal in a kiln without oxygen to produce a carbon-dense
coal byproduct that is used in iron and steel manufacturing.
Because these plants release large amounts of air pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency on July 5 imposed new regulations meant to control their hazardous emissions,
including benzene, mercury, lead, and arsenic.
The Environmental Integrity Project, Earthjustice, Clean Air Council, Sierra Club, and PANIC filed
a lawsuit challenging the new rules in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit because the regulations did not go far enough to control benzene, exposing
communities downwind from coke oven plants to dangerous levels of this carcinogen.
“EPA failed to impose strong enough standards to adequately protect the public, and failed to
require industry to install modern pollution control technologies that are readily available,” said
Haley Lewis, attorney for the Environmental Integrity Project. “The public health risk is
unacceptable, and so we are asking the D.C. Circuit Court to intervene.”
Tosh Sagar, Earthjustice attorney, said: “For decades, the EPA has ignored setting coke oven
standards, allowing cancer-causing pollutants to harm communities in Pennsylvania, Alabama,
Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. These communities have suffered enough. We’re urging the D.C.
Circuit to force the EPA to finally do its job and protect them.”
Alex Bomstein, Clean Air Council Executive Director, said: “Pennsylvania steel communities
have lived with dangerous air quality for generations. That needs to end. All of us deserve the
cleanest air for the health of our families and our communities, no matter where we live.”
Among the facilities that would be impacted by the rule is the largest coke works in North
America, the U.S. Steel Clairton plant southeast of Pittsburgh, where air pollution monitors
have detected dangerously high levels of benzene.
Other coke works where unhealthy levels of benzene have been detected include Indiana’s
Cleveland Cliffs Burns Harbor plant, beside Lake Michigan; and ABC Coke in Birmingham,
Alabama.
For a copy of the EPA regulations that are being challenged, click here.
For a copy of the lawsuit filed yesterday, click here.
The Environmental Integrity Project and coalition of allied groups sent EPA a detailed critique of
the new hazardous air pollution regulations, which you can read here.
