“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.
Want to be more involved in the fight for public transit? Apply today for the Community Organizing Fellowship In Lancaster and the Lehigh Valley! Apply with TransitForAll PA here.
TransitForAll PA: Shapiro’s Budget Address Does Not meet the Moment for Transit Riders & Workers – Governor Shapiro’s budget address this week noted the lack of secure and recurring transit funding for the state, however his response did not properly address the transit needs of Pennsylvanians, especially those outside the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh region. Shapiro’s proposed solution moves sales tax money around, offering a band-aid to a system riddled with financial problems. This funding will not come into play until fiscal year 2027-2028, and in the meantime seven small, fixed-route transit systems across the state will hit their stated fiscal cliffs, meaning fair hikes and service cuts.
The Inquirer: Other Pa. transit systems are dealing with the fiscal crunch that hit SEPTA last year – Public transit systems across Pennsylvania are facing financial cliffs, resulting in fare hikes and service cuts. LANTA, the bus system in Lehigh and Northampton Counties, serves 11,000 daily riders and is the third-largest mass transit system in the state. Last week, service was cut 5%, with the number of trips reduced on 13 bus lines. Without dedicated funding coming, further cuts can be expected as well. The “flex-spending” solution offered by Governor Shapiro over the past two years mostly covers SEPTA in Philadelphia and PRT in Pittsburgh. The state’s other 33 smaller mass transit systems don’t typically see that assistance. Dollars promised to these systems by the governor also will not be seen until 2027, and not all systems have the time to wait. Without dedicated funding in the state budget from Harrisburg, these smaller systems are at the highest risk, and riders will have to be left behind.
NBC: SEPTA to cease using social media for trip cancellation alerts – Starting Monday, February 9th, SEPTA will no longer be sending out social media alerts to commuters about canceled trips. In the past, SEPTA has sent out tweets about specific route cancellations, and the reasons why, when available. The agency seeks to end alerts that are too general and might not reflect ongoing situations. An operator calling out no longer means delays on specific routes over the course of 8 hours. That was a result of COVID-era staffing shortages. There are better programs in place now to handle service disruptions, with better real-time updates available on the SEPTA app or website. Third-party apps, such as Google and Apple Maps, will still receive cancellation data as well.
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SEPTA: Transit Equity Day 2026
NBC: SEPTA rolls out leased rail cars to ease Regional Rail overcrowding
CBS Philadelphia: Philadelphia Parking Authority resumed enforcing meters, towing cars Tuesday
“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.
Action Alert: All eyes on Governor Shapiro to propose a budget that moves ALL of Pennsylvania in his 2025-2026 Budget Address. Join Transit For All PA to call on Governor Shapiro to dedicate investments in public transportation and more! Register here.
The Inquirer: N.J., Pa. to see more than $200M restored for EV chargers in legal win over Trump administration – Pennsylvania and New Jersey are estimated to gain around $244 million in federal funding for electric vehicle charging stations after a legal ruling decides that obligated funds cannot be interrupted. A U.S. District Court Judge ruled that 20 states are owed the funding that was already allocated through the restoration of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program. The Federal Highway Administration overstepped its authority, according to the Judge, as funding was already approved by Congress.
University City District: UCD Transportation Workshop Report 2025 – Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation and Infrastructure (OTIS) has partnered with University City District (UCD) to author a report highlighting the best strategies for making University City a safer, more accessible, stronger community and neighborhood. Two workshops hosted by UCD and OTIS in 2025 brought together various partners such as PennDOT, SEPTA, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Drexel University, CHOP, UPenn, and others. Organizations, government agencies, and private-sector partners identified short and long term priorities and goals for UCD, and paths forward. Read the full report and review the collected data here.
BillyPenn: ‘Nature at Noon’ and other activities to get you outside this winter – The Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University is running a program called Nature at Noon for Philadelphians this winter. The group visits the City’s park spaces, green spots, waterways, and other outdoor spaces across Philadelphia. Research has shown that being outdoors for at least 2 hours per week is beneficial for overall health, can help regulate moods, and reduce stress levels. Nature at Noon seeks to bring the health benefits to members, as well as create community. The group engages in various outdoor activities such as nature walks, birdwatching, and exploration of spaces such as Bartram’s Garden, Penn Treaty Park, and more.
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NBC: SEPTA steadily restoring services following major winter storm
95Revive: I-95 News & Construction Updates for 2026
The Inquirer: The street of the future isn’t just for cars — it’s designed for life
ABC: New York City’s congestion pricing one year later: Has the toll been a success?
Bicycle Coalition: Vision Zero Philadelphia Conference 2026
The Inquirer: Temple has released its plan for the next decade. See what the North Philadelphia university has in mind.
“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.
Action Alert: On January 26, LANTA will cut 5% of its service. This will cancel some trips on 13 bus lines. Send a letter to the Governor before his budget address and remind him about the transit crisis.
Philadelphia Tribune: SEPTA crimes at lowest levels in decade, with drop in cellphone thefts, pickpocketing – Recent quarterly data released from SEPTA shows that serious crimes are at the lowest levels since 2015. Notable decreases include a reduction in cellphone thefts, and pickpocketing is down as well. Post-pandemic crime numbers dramatically increased, and it seems these numbers are coming back down. SEPTA’s intricate camera system is making its clearance rates for crimes high as well. SEPTA notes that despite its funding struggles this year, riders should feel safer on transportation across the system.
WHYY: Philly bus terminal moving forward on Filbert Street – Plans to refurbish and reopen a Center City bus station are underway, with the official opening planned for May of this year. The former Greyhound bus terminal on Filbert Street will be reimagined by the Philadelphia Parking Authority, with internal demolition already completed, according to the agency. The terminal will impact traffic patterns along Spring Garden Street and hopefully create a safer traffic corridor for the Market East neighborhood. This is a 10-year deal, with plans to find a permanent solution eventually.
6ABC: Philadelphia urges residents to prepare for bitter temperatures – Philadelphia is preparing for the large winter storm coming this way this weekend, and SEPTA expects to feel the impacts. The city has warming centers open, and the water department is encouraging residents to prepare. SEPTA riders can expect some delays due to the storm, and possible watermain and pipe breaks. Further updates on the storm and weather coming this weekend can be found here.
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WHYY: How Philly’s Avenue of the Arts will be transformed into a green space
The Inquirer: How N.J. ended up having some of the most restrictive e-bike regulations in the country
Fox29: New public park in the works in Old City near Elfreth’s Alley
PhillyVoice: Five-year, $338 million project begins to widen four-mile stretch of Pa. Turnpike in Chester County
Business Insider: TransCore and South Jersey Transportation Authority Complete All-Electronic Tolling Conversion on the Atlantic City Expressway
“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 interested in traffic safety issues, pedestrian advocacy, and want to do more for your community? Vision Zero Philadelphia is hiring 2026 Ambassadors. Learn more and apply for the role here!
6ABC: SEPTA resumes Regional Rail morning express service; Center City T-trolley tunnel reopens – Regional Rail and Trolley riders began their week with increased service, from the suburbs to Center City. The T-trolley tunnel reopened Monday morning, once again connecting Center City to neighborhoods and communities throughout West Philadelphia . The tunnel has been closed since Mid-November for emergency repairs, and will have overnight closures for further repairs in February. Regional Rail riders also felt improvements this week, with express service resuming from the suburbs to Center city. Service has been gradually returning after Silverliner railcars were pulled from service, inspected, and repaired.
The Inquirer: Keeping seniors fit in Philly takes a citywide effort | Expert Opinion – 20% of Philadelphia are age 60 or older, and the senior population in the city has been growing for the past decade. Drexel Professor and physical therapist notes the importance of movement for longevity and health. It’s beneficial for mental and physical health, but 30% of seniors in Philadelphia report difficulty with mobile activities, such as walking or climbing stairs. Philadelphia’s walkability and access to green spaces are positives for seniors, with 95% of all Philadelphia residents living within a 10 minute walk of a public park. However, parks tend to be smaller and lower-quality for low-income neighborhood residents. Access and funding for green spaces, public transportation, senior community centers, and other lifelines, are critical for the health of seniors across Philadelphia.
Fox Philadelphia: Girard Point Bridge overhaul begins: 5-year traffic impact in Philly – Construction has begun on the Girard Point Bridge. The renovation will take five years to complete, and drivers need to know PennDot’s plans. Three lanes of traffic can be expected, but lane restrictions will occur as well. These restrictions will be focused on nights and weekends, but riders can find alternative commuting options here. Phase 1 of construction begins in February, and long-term traffic patterns will be installed in July of this year.
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WHYY: ‘Going to make my life much better’: SEPTA trolley riders react to tunnel reopening
CBS Philadelphia: Person with measles traveled through Philadelphia airport, 30th Street Station, health officials say
The Philadelphia Tribune: Visit Philly expecting 500,000 visitors for World Cup
Philadelphia.Today: New $11.5M Project Aims to Beautify Philadelphia in Preparation for 250th Birthday Celebrations
The Inquirer: We debated the best ways to snuff out bad SEPTA etiquette. The best advice came from you
The Travel: One Of America’s Most Beautiful Amtrak Stations Is Getting A Makeover
“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 2026! Kick off the new year by following the Clean Air Council on Instagram, and check out our website.
BillyPenn: SEPTA expects Regional Rail crowding and delays to subside this month – After months of delays, crowded trains, and cancelled service, Regional Rail riders can expect relief, according to SEPTA. Inspections and repairs have been completed, and railcars are being put back into service. The current rate is about 8 repaired cars back into service every day. The increase in cars will cut down on the crowded conditions that commuters have been experiencing. SEPTA has also leased 10 coaches from Maryland’s transit system to fix the shortage during inspection and repairs. SEPTA is looking to purchase new railcars to upgrade and expand Regional Rail service, but the lack of funding in the State budget severely limits any improvements the agency can make.
WHYY: SEPTA says trolley wire replacements are done, estimates tunnel will reopen in ‘weeks’ – The trolley tunnel between Center City and West Philadelphia has been closed since November, and work is nearing completion, according to SEPTA last week. Wire replacements have been completed, but system testing is still ongoing, with estimates that the tunnel will reopen in mid-January. The longer repair times are due to the unique nature of the work. SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch noted that SEPTA is focused on returning service only when it’s tested and proven safe and reliable for public transit users.
NBC Philadelphia: SEPTA buses replace trains during construction along the Fox Chase Line – Starting Monday, January 5th, SEPTA riders on the Fox Chase Line will rely on bus service at the Fox Chase, Ryders, Cheltenham, Lawndale, and Olney stations. SEPTA crews will be installing new tracks on weekdays, from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Regional Rail service is expected to operate between Wayne Junction and Center City. Construction and bus service will be expected to continue through early April.
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The Inquirer: SEPTA’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year
6ABC: Community-led Peace Patrol aims to boost safety on SEPTA
Fox Philadelphia: Philly’s red light cameras: $100 fines to start at Eakins Oval
Bicycle Coalition: 2025 Bike Count Summary Shows an Increase in Bicycle Trips
CBS Philadelphia: Atlantic City Expressway goes cashless as tolls rise for all drivers
“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 Transit For All PA! campaign for sustainable transit funding to keep our state moving forward.
The Inquirer: SEPTA opens new $50M Wissahickon Transit Center in Manayunk – SEPTA finished the long-awaited Wissahickon Transportation Center, and it’s expected to serve 5,000 bus riders a day. The center is just down the street from the Wissahickon Regional Rail station, and construction on the $50 million project began in 2023. The transportation center is one of SEPTA’s busiest. The upgraded space was set to be the first of a wave of upgrades, many of which have since been paused due to a lack of funding.
Fox Philadelphia: South Philly street artist helps create signs displaying SEPTA bus arrival times – SEPTA bus signs are getting a makeover from a local Philly street artist known as “Mr. Bird.” Solar-powered signs display arrival times of buses on painted metal signs that connect to SEPTA’s website. The first route to get this unauthorized upgrade was Route 64 at Broad and Washington. Signs are also being installed along Route 47. Riders have reacted positively to the signs, and SEPTA has plans to upgrade bus signs in the next few years, but it’s unclear if a collaboration will occur.
Chester County: Chesco Connect Drives Into the Future with Propane Buses – A new fleet of buses is expected to hit the streets of Chester County by February. The fleet offers a way to cut costs for the County, and seven are already on the road. Chester County plans to add more propane buses in 2027, due to the significant price difference per gallon compared to gasoline or diesel. Montgomery and Lancaster Counties have both adopted propane bus integration to fleets, and it is a marginally ‘cleaner’ fuel source than gasoline. With a federal shift away from supporting electric vehicles, moving fleets to environmentally friendly alternatives is becoming more difficult.
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6ABC: SEPTA reaches deal with SMART Local 1594 to avert strike
PhillyVoice: Delaware County trolley riders should plan for longer trips during weekends through May
6ABC: Philadelphia City Council votes to reopen Greyhound Bus Terminal
Bicycle Coalition: Bringing safety and joy at the 13th Annual Bike Light Giveaway
WHYY: Road salt remains in Pa., N.J. and Del. waterways months after winter storms, according to new data
CBS Philadelphia: NJDOT brings back holiday-themed highway signs to raise awareness about reckless driving
“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 Transit For All PA! campaign for sustainable transit funding to keep our state moving forward.
CBS Philadelphia: SEPTA strike averted after workers’ union, transit agency reach new contract – SEPTA and Transport Workers Union Local 234 have reached a tentative agreement, as of Monday this week. This agreement avoids a strike with the largest union working in SEPTA currently, and would’ve impacted thousands of riders. TWU Local 234 members have been working without a contract for a month, and the agreement includes a two-year contract with a 3.5% wage increase each year, and other benefits. The union plans to ratify the new agreement later this month, with plans to present the contract to the SEPTA board on December 18.
Philly Voice: SEPTA receives MARC cars to ease Regional Rail disruptions, but a supply shortage is delaying Silverliner repairs – SEPTA is receiving 10 train cars from the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Rail this week, to try and alleviate delays in the system. Regional Rail riders have been experiencing delays and crowded trains due to the ongoing inspection and improvements to the Silverliner cars. The MARC cars are being transported by Amtrak from Washington to 30th Street Station at the end of this week. SEPTA then will need to inspect the cars and train crews, which could take up to two weeks. The cars will be leased for one year, and will add capacity for riders across the rail system.
The Inquirer: Penn’s Landing cap over I-95 is 30% complete, with completion hoped in 2029 – Penn’s Landing Park, a 12-acre park over I-95, is about 30% completed. 2029 is the estimated completion year by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, with the park itself being installed the following year by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation. Plans for the park include a net zero carbon building, skating rink, playground, water feature, and green space. The estimated cost of the project has increased from the 2017 estimate of $229 million to now $329 million due to rising costs of inflation. Construction efforts will continue by PennDOT, and motorists should check PennDOT’s website for closure updates.
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6ABC: Construction project impacting Schuylkill Expressway set to begin
WMMR: Explore the Lesser-Known Bike Paths of Philadelphia
PhillyVoice: Tolls to drive over eight Delaware River bridges will increase next year
The Inquirer: SEPTA decks out buses in holiday decorating contest
Bicycle Coalition: ICYMI: Spring Garden Street Connector Open House
PhillyVoice: SEPTA to fully restore Regional Rail service by late December with $220 million boost from PennDOT
“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.
Losing our state’s public transit infrastructure is a scary future! Join the Transit For All PA campaign for sustainable transit funding to keep our state moving forward. Happy Halloween!
Election day is Tuesday, November 4th. Find your polling place here!
CBS Philadelphia: City Council passes bill that could put Philadelphia’s bike lane safety project back on track – Last week, Philadelphia City Council passed a bill that gave the Streets Department the authority to establish loading zones in parts of Center City, including Spruce and Pine streets. This was part of an earlier initiative to protect cyclists, as loading zones would keep stopped cars out of bike lanes. Neighborhood group Friends of Pine and Spruce won a lawsuit in June, stopping the city from enacting this plan and to reverse work that had been completed. This bill overrides that decision and the Mayor has 10 days to sign the bill, making it effective immediately.
WHYY: More time? SEPTA asks for extension of federal deadline to inspect aging Silverliner railcars – The deadline given to SEPTA for the inspection of the Silverliner rail cars is Friday, October 31st. Now SEPTA has requested an additional 2 weeks in order to inspect the over 220 cars included in the order. Over 100 have been inspected so far with around two-thirds failing and only 35 cars returning to service immediately. According to SEPTA, most that have failed inspection only need minor repairs and then can be returned to service. A decision on the two week extension is expected by the end of this week.
The Inquirer: Greyhound bus terminal likely to reopen on Filbert Street after two years of tumult – The Philadelphia Parking Authority reached an agreement with City officials this week, and the former intercity bus terminal on Filbert could be getting a major renovation. The PPA will begin renovations and run the Greyhound bus station on behalf of the City, according to the agreement. Legislation to assess feeds and other items was introduced this week to City Council and the PPA board must agree to the lease. Spring Guard traffic issues have been haunting Philadelphia for over two years. This solution would address the problem, but would require cooperation from other entities such as the Streets Department, to direct traffic pattern changes around the Filbert depot.
Other Stories
PhillyVoice: Your guide to Philadelphia’s $91 million streetlight replacement project
BillyPenn: “On a scale of 1 to 10, we’re a negative-2”: Airport workers struggle amid shutdown
6ABC: I-76 westbound ramp to City Avenue to close for repairs
“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 Transit For All PA campaign for sustainable transit funding to keep our state moving forward.
The Inquirer: SEPTA riders say Regional Rail trains catching fire ‘is what decades of disinvestment looks like’ – Last week advocacy groups held a press conference at Love Park urging leaders to properly fund mass transit. They said avoiding doing so over the last several years has created the host of problems currently being faced by SEPTA, and the state of Pennsylvania. Advocates say that without a set budget, SEPTA is forced to use capital funds to keep service running, rather than spend that money on capital improvements, and we are seeing the first example of the arising problems with the Silverliner IV car fires.
Transit Talent (Originally posted to the Inquirer): SEPTA is postponing hybrid bus purchases, accessibility projects to keep the lights on – Several improvement projects by SEPTA have been placed on hold due to lack of funding from the state. New hybrid or electric bus purchases, accessibility improvements to the Bristol Regional Rail station, and expansion of the Frazer train facility in Malvern are some of the projects pushed back. Projects that already have broken ground will continue, including the Market-Frankford Line and trolley car replacements, as well as the modernization of trolley systems.
PhillyVoice: Nighttime work on I-95 will close lanes in Northeast Philly for most of November – Weeknights in November will see lane closures approaching the Cottman Avenue Interchanges. This will be in effect from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. from November 3rd until November 28th. Construction efforts are currently focused on the 8 miles between I-676 and Cottman Avenue. This is the final phase of the Cottman Avenue Interchange project. For more information on I-95 construction and closures, be sure to follow the Clean Air Council’s Facebook page.
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6ABC: Sinkhole closes portion of Schuylkill River Trail in Center City Philadelphia
PhillyVoice: At 30th Street Station, deep cleaning is the ‘true artisan work’ of a $550 million renovation
6ABC: ‘South Jersey Girls Who Walk’ brings a social club to local women
WFMZ: SEPTA’s City Hall Station is getting a face lift ahead of America’s 250th birthday celebrations
Momentum Mag: Philly Bike Train is Upping the City of Brotherly Love’s Bicycle Commute Game
“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 registered to vote? The deadline for PA voters to register for the November 4th election is Monday! Check your status and register here.
Join the Transit For All PA campaign for sustainable transit funding to keep our state moving forward.
The Inquirer: See inside SEPTA’s efforts to inspect Regional Rail cars that keep catching fire – An emergency order by the Federal Railroad Administration has ordered SEPTA to inspect 225 Silverliner IVs by the end of the month. Inspectors and engineers are looking for signs of overheating and damage to circuits, and are doing electrical testing. The review process began last week, and crews can now handle 12 cars per day. So far inspections have not found any glaring issues, other than normal wear and tear.
CBS Philadelphia: SEPTA says crime continues to drop as transit agency cracks down on fare evasion – Crime has continued to drop on SEPTA according to a quarterly report released on Wednesday. The report showed a 10% decrease in serious crimes compared to the same period of last year. Seven out of eight crime categories have seen a reduction, and riders have reported feeling safer at stations and on board vehicles.
NBC Philadelphia: Philly City Council holds public hearing on SEPTA’s Silverliner IV trains – Amid safety concerns and the inspection of Silverliner IV railcars, Philadelphia City Council’s Transportation and Public Utilities Committee hosted a public hearing. Ongoing delays, the status of inspections, and SEPTA’s timeline were discussed at 2 p.m. on Thursday. SEPTA was given October 31st as their deadline, and they are on track to meet that. The return to “normal”, as things were before inspections began, might be a bit of a longer wait according to the SEPTA General Manager.
Other Stories
NBC Philadelphia: Road closures, SEPTA detours for ‘No Kings’ protest in Philadelphia this weekend
6ABC: ‘We Walk PHL’ helps community members get active and explore Philly parks
CBS Philadelphia: PATCO restores train service after PSE&G power outage
Streetsblog USA: States Have More Power Than They Think to Fund Sustainable Transportation
BillyPenn: Philly disability rights advocates demand accessible 2026 celebrations
NBC Philadelphia: Enjoy a 20-mile car-free experience with Philly Bike Ride this October
