“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.
Happy Halloween! There’s nothing scarier than losing access to democracy! Plan to vote on November 3. Find more information here.
Philly Voice: SEPTA affordability programs would be permanent under proposed Philly law – A proposal introduced by Philadelphia City Council could increase access to transit for Philadelphians. Councilmember O’Rourke introduced legislation to set aside 0.5% of the city’s General Fund for a transit access program in April of last year. The fund would support Zero Fare, Key Advantage, and Key Partner programs. These programs offer critical transit access to transit to low-income residents, families, and businesses across the city.
Northeast Times: SEPTA Ridership Hits Highest Level Since February 2020 as Bus Trips Climb 14% – In September, SEPTA averaged more than 822,000 riders across all modes per day. This is the highest average daily ridership SEPTA has seen since February 2020. Bus ridership has risen 14% from 2025. SEPTA is giving credit to the New Bus Network, and phase 1 of the plan began in August. Regional Rail is the only mode to decline, with average weekday ridership down 4% from last year. SEPTA notes capacity and frequency issues as the leading causes for the decrease in Regional Rail ridership.
6ABC: SEPTA buys Canadian train cars to boost fleet – Two dozen Canadian EXO Transit rail cars are being serviced by SEPTA mechanics, with plans to phase them into service next year. The cars will help SEPTA meet daily service needs and should increase ridership. The new cars will seat an additional 60 to 70 riders, offer more handrails for standing passengers, and increase capacity for Regional Rail service.
Other Stories
NBC Philadelphia: Philadelphia Indego bike stations get high-tech upgrade with smart kiosks
WHYY: Pa. announces funding for 515 new electric vehicle chargers
Trains.com: Amtrak schedules event for public comment on restructuring
WHYY: NJ Transit is expanding a project to present art exhibitions at bus and train stations
Philadelphia Today: AIM Academy Mountain Biking Program in Conshohocken Turns 10
Philly Voice: Filmmakers who set out to produce a comedy on the PPA instead confront tragedies of a car-obsessed culture
“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 ready to vote on November 3? Find voting and election information here.
City of Philadelphia: Zero Fare Pilot Program fuels opportunity for Philadelphians – The Zero Fare pilot program provides free SEPTA key cards to over 37,000 low-income residents. The program launched in August of 2023, and the majority of participants were chosen by a lottery system. The unique automatic enrollment model has been a success, as Zero Fare has had a higher participation rate than any other transit benefit program for low-income riders. During the most recent quarter, the program has seen 2.4 million trips, bringing the total number of trips since the start of the program to 19.6 million.
Mass Transit Mag: Union workers approve new contract with Pittsburgh Regional Transit – Over 2,000 unionized bus operators, maintenance, and office staff have signed a four-year contract. The contract with Pittsburgh Regional Transit includes 15% wage increases. Wages will increase by 4% in the first two years and 3.5% in the next two. The deal is expected to be approved by the PRT board on Friday October 22 and replaces a previous four-year contract that expired in June.
WHYY: Philly teens advocate for universal free student SEPTA passes – Students are advocating for an expansion of free student SEPTA passes, which currently only work between 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Students are only eligible for the pass if they live more than 1.5 miles from their school, and cards do not work on weekends, or during summers or school holidays. But advocates argue that students deserve access to educational programs outside of school, job opportunities, and other civically engaging events without having to worry about the financial burden travelling could bring. Arguments against the program include behavioral concerns, cost to the districts, and students skipping taps, resulting in fare evasion.
Other Stories
Spotlight PA: Pa. election 2026: A complete guide to who is on the ballot, when to vote, where to vote, casting mail ballots, and more
CBS Philadelphia: Bike lanes around Philadelphia City Hall could be here to stay after City Council vote
SEPTA: SEPTA Crews to Perform Nightly Cleaning During Slippery Rail Season
PennWatch: PennDOT Launches New Social Media Campaign for Teen Drivers During Teen Driver Safety Week
Mass Transit Mag: Transit Tech Lab unveils proof-of-concept results from 2026 cohort focused on infrastructure modernization
6ABC: New Pennsylvania license plates continue to cause toll trouble for some E-ZPass users
“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 ready to vote on November 4th? Find Voting & Election information here.
Metro Philadelphia: New SEPTA Regional Rail schedules start Sunday – Current SEPTA Student – Sunday, October 18 will see the start of new Regional Rail schedules for SEPTA. Daily parking rates will also be reduced at all SEPTA parking garages, from $4 to $2 per day, through December 31, 2026. The new schedules can be viewed here.
Transit Forward Philadelphia: Week Without Driving 2026 – This year’s annual Week Without Driving challenged Pennsylvanians that normally drive to go car-free as much as possible from September 30 through October 6. More than one-third of people living in the United States are nondrivers. Advocacy groups with Transit Forward Philadelphia challenged Philly to go beyond one week. They advocated for affordable and reliable transit, expanded student fare cards, accessible transit stops, and building out the Transit Access Fund to expand SEPTA for all Philadelphians.
Philly Voice: City Council makes bike lane around City Hall permanent a year after it was installed by PennDOT – The existing bike lane surrounding City Hall was codified into a bill by City Council approval this week. The bike lane was installed by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation last year but was considered a pilot program. The bill, introduced by Councilmember Jeffrey Young Jr., keeps the lane in place. Cycling advocates submitted a 1,200-signature petition and sent over 400 emails in favor of the lane. The bill awaits the mayor’s signature, but was passed unanimously by City Council, meaning it can become law with or without the signature.
Other Stories
BillyPenn: Less honk, more handlebar: Philly Bike Ride rolls back into town
Philadelphia Today: Why Philadelphia Ranked as America’s Worst City to Drive in 2026
PennDOT: Seven Day, 24-Hour Work Begins October 19 on the Dolby Street Safety Improvement Project
CBS Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Regional Transit announces plans to permanently close the Wabash Tunnel
6ABC: AC Expressway widening project aims to improve safety and reduce congestion
“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 ended this week but keep fighting for freedom of transportation for all! Sign up with Transit For All PA! for more information.
Metro Philadelphia: SEPTA universal student fare cards could carry hefty cost for Philadelphia – Current SEPTA Student Fare cards are only available for students in grades 7 through 12 who live at least a mile and a half away from their school. The cards can only be used between 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the school year, meaning cards are not valid on weekends, holidays, or over the summer. Expanding the cards to give students unrestricted transit access could cost up to $64 million a year. Philadelphia school board officials testified that they would support the expansion initiative if there was a dedicated funding source. Fare cost can be a significant barrier to accessing opportunities for students and families.
CBS Philadelphia: Here’s when the 2nd Pennsylvanian Amtrak route will start – The second daily round trip from Pittsburgh to New York City will be added next month, with stops including Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and a dozen others. Amtrak ridership has grown 20% since 2019, and the demand for more service was a driving factor in this route, which begins on November 18.
The Inquirer: Accelerate to the modern SEPTA the region deserves – The infrastructure in Philadelphia, specifically in Center City, offers millions of people commuting options to the largest employment hub in the region. However, relying on infrastructure from a century ago is limiting where SEPTA can grow. SEPTA’s recently- released Accelerate plan offers better connectivity with Regional Rail, more trips offered on subways and buses, but the piece missing from this improvement plan is dedicated and secure funding.
Other Stories
Philadelphia Today: Borski Park Reconnects Bridesburg With the Delaware River
WHYY: What should Philly’s streeteries look like? The city wants your input
Philly Voice: These Philly walking groups help people boost their fitness and mental health, and they welcome others to join
The Inquirer: Roxborough’s Shawmont Station, a 200-year-old railroad depot, is slated to become a train museum
CBS Pittsburgh: Southwest adding 3 nonstop destinations from Pittsburgh International Airport next summer
Billy Penn: ‘One-shot Mar’ crowned Philadelphia’s best parallel parker
“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.
Join the Clean Air Council in participating in the Pretzel Pedal Challenge! Log your bike rides from September 1-30 to automatically earn points that qualify you for discounts and prizes! Create a Share-A-Ride profile to join!
WHYY: SEPTA gets $80 million federal grant to make ADA upgrades at trolley stations – Federal grant money has been awarded to SEPTA, through the All Stations Accessibility Program. $80 million has been allocated for the reconstruction of the 22nd Street, 33rd Street, and 36th Street trolley stations, building elevators, and a complete overhaul of facilities. The upgrades should be completed in 2-3 years, coinciding with the implementation of new accessible trolleys, slated for arrival in 2029.
6ABC: Local athletes develop lifelong passions atop bikes with Independence Youth Cycling – Independence Youth Cycling is a local nonprofit that connects kids with cycling through bike-share programs, coaches and teams, and team rides. The nonprofit supports series across Philadelphia, south Jersey, and Montgomery County. Teams include introducing kids to mountain biking as a sport through race and adventure events, and trail rides in different parks across Philadelphia.
BillyPenn: The status of the Spring Garden Connector project – The Spring Garden Street corridor has been waiting for improvements and upgrades since 2009. The corridor improvements include protections for cyclists and pedestrians, increased access to green space, and better connectivity to the nationwide East Coast Greenway Project. The project did succeed in 2016 with a public art installation along I-95 underpass outside Spring Garden Station. However, the core concept, protected bike lanes, is still to come. The project is still in the design phase, with hopes to find construction contracts in 2029.
Other Stories
Mass Transit Mag: New Garden State Initiative report says NJ Transit needs performance-based review, not just more funding
The Inquirer: Burlington County’s free shuttle bus will finally hit the road next week
Transit Forward Philadelphia: The Impact of Trolley Modernization on Philly Students
Philadelphia Today: PHL Airport Buys 31.6-Acre Property for $42 Million to Fuel Future Expansion
Mass Transit Mag: NJ Transit advances bus technology upgrades to add Wi-Fi, better bus tracking
Pittsburgh Business Times: Amtrak creates board committee to guide expansion as Pittsburgh gains second daily train
“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.
Join the Clean Air Council in participating in the Pretzel Pedal Challenge! Log your bike rides from September 1-30 to automatically earn points that qualify you for discounts and prizes! Create a Share-A-Ride profile to join!
NBC Philadelphia: Speeding, double parking fuel safety concerns on East Girard Avenue – East Girard Avenue in Fishtown is an extremely busy corridor, and advocates held a walkthrough this week to push for safety improvements for pedestrians, drivers, cyclists, and transit riders. Issues facing this corridor include speeding drivers, double-parked cars, illegal turns, and pedestrians crossing outside of crosswalks. Improvements could include dedicated turning zones, pedestrian infrastructure, curb extensions, and more traffic signs.
Mass Transit: Off the Beaten Path: Pittsburgh’s streetcar past keeps rolling at Pennsylvania Trolley Museum – Children can enter the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum for free throughout September. The museum, located in Washington County, has more than 50 trolleys and streetcars on display. Visitors can ride working trolleys along 4 miles of track. Pittsburgh’s trolley system dates back to the late 1800s, and visitors can learn all about that history and more.
Metro Philadelphia: Gusset Plate Project brings art under the El in Kensington – Murals painted by residents over the past few years were installed onto triangular gusset plates that connect columns and beams holding up the Market-Frankford Line along Kensington Avenue. The Kensington and Harrowgate neighborhoods have received a little more color due to the mural plates, which can be found between Huntington and Tioga stations.
Other Stories
PARK(ing) DAY PHL: PARK(ing) Day is September 18, 2026
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: The Pennsylvania Turnpike is added to Oklahoma’s PikePass system
New Jersey State Democrats: SINGLETON, CCSNJ, SJTA TO ANNOUNCE NEW MICROTRANSIT SHUTTLE IN BURLCO
Virgina Mercury: Amtrak to suspend Virginia-to-D.C. service for critical track upgrades Oct. 16–26
“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
