“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.
WHYY: Zero Fare has been a success, but some vulnerable Philly residents aren’t feeling the benefits of the free transit program – The City of Philadelphia launched a pilot Zero Fare program in August of 2023, lasting two years and providing free public transit access to low-income residents. The program so far has seen 34,000 enrollments of low-income riders and subsidized over 6 million trips. Participants are eligible if their income is below 150% of the federal poverty line, but in 2023 the poverty rate in Philadelphia was 20.3%. At the pilot’s launch, 300,000 residents were eligible, but due to extremely limited funding, only 25,000 free-ride cards were given out. This left residents with an 8% chance of enrollment. The success of this program highlights the need for further funding, and currently Mayor Parker’s initial 2026 fiscal budget does not include funding to continue the program.
NBC Philadelphia: Nature walks are good for you, but can a city stroll be just as good? – Trees and green spaces in urban environments can bring the benefits of nature into more densely developed areas. A study by a university in Wales showed that people can gain mental health benefits, lowering stress and restoring attention by walking in greenspaces even within urban settings. Additional elements like painted walls, interesting architecture and well-developed urban infrastructure can also heighten the positive effects on residents’ well-being.
6ABC: SEPTA granted extension to finish inspecting Silverliner IV railcars after series of fires – Last week SEPTA was granted an extension to finish their inspections of the Silverliner railcars. Their original deadline of October 31 has been pushed to November 14. The agency has said they plan to complete the inspections before the new deadline. The Federal Railroad Administration has also extended another deadline allowing SEPTA until December 5 to install thermal protection circuits. Riders can continue to expect shortened trains and delays while inspections and improvements continue.
Other Stories
PhillyVoice: Here’s a recap of Tuesday’s election results in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
CBS Philadelphia: 2 TSA checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport to temporarily close amid government shutdown
The Inquirer: What the PPA has planned for a revived Greyhound bus station
AxiosPhiladelphia: The Philadelphia region’s traffic is worse than ever
The Inquirer: Hoboken has gone 8 years without a traffic death. Can Philly replicate its success?
“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.
Other Stories
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
Feet First Philly’s Public Space Enhancement Mini-Grant Program is back again for the sixth year. This grant program has funded over 64 projects across Philadelphia since 2020, and all city residents and community groups are invited to apply.
This program has a funding focus on supporting communities that historically have had less investment (or active disinvestment) in the built environment and city services. Feet First Philly seeks projects that improve walkability by making neighborhoods safer and easier to walk and roll in. The program has supported many different types of projects over the past few years, based on the belief that residents know their community best and are the best advocates to identify and carry out public space improvements.
Feet First Philly is partnering again with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to provide funding for projects to create and improve public spaces, particularly in underserved communities. Mini-Grants between $500 and $2,000 will be awarded to address the financial and technical barriers that organizations face when creating or improving public spaces.
Funding can be used to support public space projects, including construction materials, educational materials, event costs, insurance, stipends, staff time, or other needs. Be creative and improve a public space that matters to your community.
You can download the Request For Proposal (RFP) here.
Applications are now open! Applications due on October 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
The Public Space Enhancement Mini-Grant Application is open. Use the Google form below to submit your application, email questions to shecht@cleanair.org.
We will be hosting an informational online webinar on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 12:00 PM, discussing the application & awarding process, hearing from previous years awardees, and more!
Have questions for us? Request a one-on-one session to discuss your application between now and September 22nd by emailing Sally Hecht, Clean Air Council’s Sustainable Transportation Program Coordinator at shecht@cleanair.org with times that work best for you.
Read about our past mini-grant recipients
First year of mini-grant projects
Second year of mini-grant projects part 1
Second year of mini-grant project part 2
Third year of mini-grant projects part 1
Third year mini-grant projects part 2
Fourth-year mini-grant projects
Fifth year mini-grant projects
The Cobbs Creek Watershed Coalition works to protect not only Cobbs Creek itself, but also the neighborhoods that surround it. One issue that has come up again and again is the deteriorating condition of the Elmwood Park Plaza parking lot at 70th and Elmwood Avenue (6930 Elmwood Avenue). Despite being a regular topic at community meetings and civic discussions, the problems in this area remain unresolved, raising both safety and environmental concerns for residents.
Neighbors report that the parking lot has become a site for illegal auto repair activity, creating a range of hazards. According to Philadelphia city code, public parking lots are intended for one purpose: parking cars. Performing auto repairs in these spaces is not only illegal, it’s dangerous. In Elmwood Park Plaza, it’s common to see cars being serviced openly, with tools, oil containers, and car parts scattered around the lot.
This activity contributes to unsafe conditions for pedestrians and shoppers. Large piles of empty motor oil containers, spilled fluids, and various auto-related waste are often found on-site. These materials create fire hazards and pose slipping risks, especially in wet or icy weather. Beyond the immediate safety issues, this kind of pollution can also harm the local watershed. Runoff from oil, antifreeze, and other contaminants can make its way into storm drains and eventually reach Cobbs Creek.
The Cobbs Creek Watershed Coalition recognizes that protecting the watershed also means protecting the health, safety, and quality of life in nearby communities like Elmwood. That’s why we’re encouraging residents to speak up and report what they see.
If you’d like to take action, here’s how:
Report Code Violations to the Department of Licenses & Inspections (L&I):
South District Code Enforcement Unit
2401 Walnut St., Suite 502, Philadelphia, PA 19103
📞 (215) 685-1510
You don’t need to be an expert—just call and say that you use Elmwood Park Plaza and the volume of auto repair activity is creating unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
Let Your Councilmember Know:
Council President Kenyatta Johnson’s office wants to hear from you, especially if you’ve reported this issue to L&I.
📞 (215) 686-3412 or (215) 686-3413
Abandoned Vehicles Are a Nuisance:
Unregistered or abandoned cars in the lot should be reported to the Philadelphia Parking Authority:
📞 (215) 683-9773
🌐 philapark.org/nuisance
For additional questions or support, contact Russell Zerbo at Clean Air Council:
📧 rzerbo@cleanair.org
📞 (215) 567-4004 x130
By reporting these ongoing issues, you’re helping to improve public safety, protect the environment, and ensure that all of Southwest Philadelphia including the neighborhoods around Cobbs Creek remains a healthy and thriving place to live.
“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.
PhillyVoice: New SEPTA Regional Rail schedules take effect to improve service reliability – As of Sunday, the schedules of 13 regional rail lines have been adjusted to improve efficiency. These schedule changes, in addition to strategic staffing and maintenance crew deployments, aim to reduce delays and bolster service reliability. Image Source: PhillyVoice
The Inquirer: PATCO will stop running overnight trains to clean its stations – For six months this spring, PATCO will stop running overnight trains, from midnight to 4 a.m., on weekdays as its 13 stations are deep cleaned. The agency is coordinating with the city, social service organizations, and South Jersey municipalities to make stations cleaner and safer. Image Source: The Inquirer
NBC10: PATCO finally has reopening date for long-shuttered Franklin Square Station – On April 3rd, the renovated Franklin Square Station at 7th and Race will reopen for the first time in decades, expanding the PATCO line to 14 stations. Train service to the station will begin in the afternoon following a ceremony at noon. Image Source: The Inquirer
Other Stories
PhillyVoice: Market Street Bridge to close for 14 months starting August 2026 during $149 million rebuild
The Inquirer: Philly council members tabled a bill over concerns about bringing speed cameras to school zones
PhillyVoice: Reopening of MLK Drive Bridge pushed back to September after cold weather slowed repairs
NBC10: Lights go out in part of 30th Street Station, traffic lights outside also go down
StreetsBlog USA: What Will ‘Safe Streets and Road For All’ Mean Under Sec. Duffy?
September 27, 2024 – For years, pipeline companies like Energy Transfer have built and operated dangerous pipelines throughout Pennsylvania, without adequate safety oversight. Now, new rules passed by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC) go a long way to addressing safety and environmental concerns associated with hazardous, highly volatile liquids pipelines like Mariner East. While not perfect, these groundbreaking new rules put Pennsylvania at the forefront of safety – protecting homes, schools, and places we gather that are in close proximity to such pipelines.
These new rules are a direct result of the tireless work of residents and the legal and advocacy work of Clean Air Council and our partners. From contaminated wells to sinkholes to the potential for leaks and explosions, residents have raised the alarm on the dangers of hazardous liquids pipelines and the need for better regulation by state agencies. Clean Air Council has supported residents in their advocacy and legal efforts to challenge the weak regulation and enforcement that puts communities at risk. The new regulations cover construction, operation and maintenance, leak detection, emergency notification, accident reporting, and enforcement mechanisms.
The potential accidents and disasters associated with pipelines like Mariner East are unacceptable and we are confident that these new rules will be more protective and help us breathe a sigh of relief. While this is a significant victory, the Council will continue to watchdog the PUC and pipeline safety across the state. No one should be in harm’s way of any dangerous pipeline infrastructure.
Since 2017, Feet First Philly (FFP) has been documenting illegal parking on sidewalks, crosswalks, curb cuts, and bike lanes. Through their #NotAParkingSpot Twitter (now X) campaign, FFP has drawn attention to this issue for many years. Finally, we are excited to announce that the Philadelphia Parking Authority is planning to crack down on illegal parking that blocks crosswalks and sidewalks, inhibiting the mobility of and creating safety issues for pedestrians all over Philadelphia.
Over the years, FFP received thousands of reports of illegal parking, and has documented them, forwarded individual reports to the appropriate Police districts and the Parking Authority, and generated maps to show the extent of this problem. Until now the problem has never been a priority for enforcement agencies and the dangerous behavior has gone largely unchecked.
Now that the PPA is cracking down on illegal parking, they and their partner Variety will officially announce in mid-April the new program the “Mobility and Access Initiative” to the public. This new program will draw more attention to the issues that result from illegal parking. Hiring more enforcement officers is needed to get this program running, and we applaud the Philadelphia Parking Authority for committing to hiring 30 new enforcement officers to focus on vehicles illegally parked on sidewalks and blocking ADA-accessible curbs. Enforcement will begin in May, therefore providing a warning period of approximately four weeks after the official announcement.
Community members are aware of the issues created by illegal parking and have used Feet First Philly’s Public Space Enhancement Mini-grant program to help resolve them in their neighborhoods. For example, Friends of Adaire used funds from the Public Space Enhancement Mini-grant program to install planters and bike racks along the sidewalks of Earl Street and Palmer Street to prevent illegal parking and protect children and parents walking to and from school.
Illegal parking greatly affects pedestrians, with an even greater impact on vulnerable populations including people with disabilities, older adults, and children. With this new enforcement program in place, we hope to see a shift in culture from one that has allowed illegal parking to be pervasive in our city for so long to a place where pedestrians of all ages and mobilities can travel safely.
PENNSYLVANIA (February 27, 2024) – On Saturday, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) published the final guidance on using underground boring technology (“trenchless” technology) such as horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to build gas pipelines and other underground utilities. The guidance lays out a roadmap to less-risky pipeline construction practices. The guidance stems from a legal appeal of Mariner East II pipeline permits by Clean Air Council, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, and Mountain Watershed Association.
Also announced last week, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) released a final rulemaking intended to improve safety in the construction and operation of pipelines, such as the Mariner East lines, transporting hazardous liquids through Pennsylvania. Hazardous liquids pipelines will now be subject to Pennsylvania-specific regulations as well as federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regulations. These new regulations come after an in-depth review of pipeline safety measures in Pennsylvania, prompted in part by a lawsuit filed by residents before the PUC. The “Safety 7” lawsuit alleged that the safety risks associated with the Mariner East pipelines violated residents’ rights. Clean Air Council filed as an intervenor in safety-related cases before the PUC, and supported residents in their advocacy efforts to gain greater public safety protections. The new regulatory framework corrects some of the prior loopholes and lessens the risks to residents of the Commonwealth.
“DEP’s trenchless technology guidance and the PUC’s hazardous liquids safety rule are some of the strongest and most protective in the country when it comes to safeguarding the public and the environment,” said Alex Bomstein, Clean Air Council Legal Director. “Our commonwealth is overdue for these protections as fracking runs rampant and the industry clamors for more pipelines for transport. The Council will continue to watchdog the gas industry and ensure that these rules are followed and the public is protected.”
“Because Mariner East largely does not transport gas for energy production but “natural gas liquids,” which are used mostly for plastic production, it fell outside of many of the rules governing gas lines,” said Melissa Marshall, Mountain Watershed Association Community Advocate. “This lack of oversight caused countless harms and we hope this guidance will prevent such catastrophic damage in the future.”
Delaware County resident Rosemary Fuller, who was involved in the Safety 7 case, stated that, “hazardous liquid pipelines put residents at risk, especially when they run through densely populated areas, next to schools and hospitals, or through areas where residents source their drinking water from private wells, which are impacted by HDD drilling. The DEP and PUC rulemaking is long overdue, and these new regulations must be strictly enforced.”
The latest spill on the Mariner East pipeline system was reported this week in Marsh Creek State Park in Chester County where drilling fluid used during construction of the pipeline once again rose up in a wetland and flowed into a tributary to Marsh Creek Lake.
“This is just one example of how the damage to the environment doesn’t end when the drilling ends,” said Chester County resident Christina DiGiulio, “these corporations need to be held fully responsible for their crimes.”
