Clean Air Council

“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.

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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WFMZ: LANTA’s 1st fare increase in more than a decade goes into effect

The Inquirer: SEPTA wants apartments instead of a parking garage near Conshohocken Station

WHYY: Straight ‘F’s: Philadelphia region’s air quality ranking worsens in annual lung health report

NBC Philadelphia: Center City is Philly’s fastest-growing area, but faces 3 key challenges: Report

Amtrak Media: Amtrak Unveils Replica Liberty Bell at Philadelphia’s Gray 30th Street Station

Article tags: bike lanes, bus station, cycling, pittsburgh regional transit, ppa, PRT, public transportation, the hub, transportation

Join the Transit For All PA campaign for sustainable transit funding to keep our State moving forward.

Have a community project you want to fund and support? Check out the Public Space Enhancement Mini-Grant from Feet First Philly! Applications are due October 1st. The full list of requirements and further information can be found here.

Image Source: Pennsylvania Capital-Star/Katie Blackley

Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pittsburgh Regional Transit turns to Pa. fund to avoid service cuts during budget impasse – Pittsburgh Regional Transit followed in SEPTA’s footsteps last week, requesting to withdraw nearly $107 million from the Public Transportation Trust Fund to avoid extreme service cuts and fare hikes. The move, which was approved, will allow the transit agency to continue functioning in a full capacity for the time being. Pennsylvania’s Public Transportation Trust Fund is typically intended for infrastructure investments, not operating expenses.

PhillyVoice: Philly airport shares its plans to spend $500 million on upgrades ahead of 2026 – The Philadelphia International Airport will see renovations before the end of this year, with planned upgrades to waiting areas, bathrooms, and increased signage in the airport and on nearby roadways. The airport has already been upgrading facilities in the past year, with local Philly eateries expanding into the airport’s restaurant space. A number of international flight destinations will also be added.

CBS News: Philadelphia starts removing loading zones on Spruce and Pine streets after court order – A court order has mandated the city to remove the loading zones that it recently installed along Spruce and Pine streets. The new loading zones were a result of a law passed this summer that made it illegal for cars to temporarily park in bike lanes; the loading zones were intended to provide a legal place for residents and delivery drivers to pull over and unload. Friends of Spruce & Pine, the neighborhood group that filed the lawsuit resulting in the court order, argued that the loading zones took away valuable parking spots.

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