“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.
The Inquirer: Mayor Parker wants to defund a program that provides free transit passes for low-income people – Mayor Parker’s proposed budget does not include funding to continue the Zero Fare pilot program, an initiative from 2023 that provides free SEPTA access to about 25,000 Philadelphians living in poverty. Unless the budget is adjusted, the program is slated to run out of funds by June 30th.
The Inquirer: Philadelphia Love Run 2025: Race route, road closures, parking restrictions, SEPTA, and more – The annual half marathon and 7k race will both start at 7:30 am and conclude between 9 am and noon, causing temporary road closures. For a list of road closures and detours, see this webpage from the city.
Billy Penn: Cyclists have doubts about Market Street bridge design – The overhaul of the Market Street bridge, a project with initial work beginning this month, will include a two-way bike lane separated from car traffic by concrete blocks called “pills” with flex posts on top. Although this design aims to enhance cyclist safety, some cyclists worry that the disconnect of this new lane from existing bike lanes on either side of the bridge will result in chaos.
Other Stories
The Inquirer: Mayor Parker wants to cut free SEPTA fare benefit for city workers
NBC10: PPA takes aim at Center City congestion with camera-monitored loading zones
The Inquirer: 5 Philly-area bridges should be evaluated for collapse risk, says NTSB
PhillyVoice: Lombard Circle ramp to I-95 to close for 2 years due to highway capping project
CBS News: SEPTA bus riders frustrated with persistent “operator unavailability” delays, cancellations
“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?
“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: Mayor Parker proposes boost to Vision Zero funding after cuts to traffic safety program drew backlash last year – On Thursday, in her budget proposal, Mayor Parker revisited her commitment to Vision Zero and traffic safety, by proposing $5 million for fiscal year 2026 and $30 million in capital investments through 2031. The mayor also proposed funding for concrete barriers to bike lanes on Spruce and Pine Streets. There will be public hearings and comment sessions as the budget must be approved by City Council by July 1st.
PhillyVoice: Car-free streets return to Center City on Sundays in April – Rittenhouse Square will be transformed into a car-free zone on Sundays in April. Seven blocks along 18th Street from Locust to Chestnut Streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., allowing people to gather in the streets, shop, and enjoy live entertainment.
PhillyVoice: SEPTA adds designated areas to park strollers on six bus routes – SEPTA aims to make traveling easier for families, and has taken steps to add designated stroller areas on six bus routes. 120 buses that service routes 23,25,32,49,58, and 84 will get stroller spots. This change is a result of feedback from customers and operators. A video on the agency’s website demonstrates how to use the stroller space.
Other Stories
WHYY: School zone speed cameras bill stalls in Philadelphia council committee
BillyPenn: Planning director discusses Roundhouse, Greyhound station, housing push
PhillyVoice: Despite Trump rollbacks, experts say electric vehicles are ‘here to stay’ in America’s automotive future
PhillyVoice: New bike lanes approved on Temple University campus, in Spring Garden area and near Logan Square
PhillyVoice: Sewer project will close Market Street ramp to I-95 South for two weeks
NextCity: Transit Stations Aren’t Designed for Women and Caregivers. Here’s How To Change That.
PlanPhilly: Spring Garden bike lanes still on track to connect Delaware to Schuylkill River trails, for now
“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.
PlanPhilly: Spring Garden Ave. bike lanes still on track to connect Delaware to Schuylkill River trails, for now – The 2.1-mile Spring Garden Connector project is expected to be completed by 2029 and officials say it is on track. This is a $53 million project that aims to transform Spring Garden Ave. into a safer and greener connector street for vulnerable road users – pedestrians, transit riders, and bicyclists.
The Inquirer: SEPTA survived the Eagles parade. Now planners say bring on the World Cup, 250th anniversary of the U.S. – During the Eagles victor parade, SEPTA moved more than 400,000 people in and out of the city. There was no transit-related disaster so SEPTA officials are preparing for 2026 when Philadelphia will host the FIFA World Cup matches along with events for the nation’s 250th birthday celebration and Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game.
West Philly Local: 42nd Street Trolley Track Renewal project to begin March 17 – The trolley tracks along 42nd Street between Spruce Street and Woodland Avenue will be replaced. This section is used mainly during the trolley diversion for the summer trolley maintenance. The renewal project will begin on March 17th and is expected to be completed by the end of May.
Other Stories
The Inquirer: City Council may extend bike lanes to three Philly streets
WHYY: Pennsylvania residents will need REAL ID to board planes beginning May 7. Here’s what to know
Transportation For America: Long Distance Rail Study fails to address the needs of passengers
The Telegraph: Norway to ban petrol cars from ‘zero emission zones’
Mass Transit: New York City Transit launches two new open-gangway trains on its G Line
“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.
The Inquirer: SEPTA is launching its first buses with armored compartments for operators – This Spring, SEPTA will begin road testing of bullet-resistant glass for bus operators. As a commitment to protect its workers, SEPTA will be the first transit agency in the U.S. to have buses with armored glass cockpits for operators.
PlanPhilly: More bicycle lanes could come to Philly, connecting riders to the Schuylkill River Trail and Temple – City Council Committee on Streets and Services, chaired by Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr., voted unanimously to approve three bills to add more bike lanes in Philadelphia. If the legislation is successful, these bike lanes will be installed at the following locations: 1. Along 13th Street from Cecil B. Moore Avenue to Diamond Street. 2. Along North 23rd Street between Market and Race Street. 3. Along North 22nd Street from Spring Garden Street to Green Street.
PhillyVoice: SEPTA, PPA will start using AI cameras in May to ticket illegally parked vehicles in bus lanes and stops – Starting May, SEPTA and the Philadelphia Parking Authority will deploy AI-powered cameras on 150 SEPTA buses and more than 20 trolleys. These cameras will be used to ticket vehicles illegally parked in bus lanes and blocking bus stops. The ticket fees will cost $101.
Other Stories
The Inquirer: The Pa. Turnpike now has open road tolling. What that means for your bill, and how to avoid scams
BillyPenn: SEPTA officials honor past heroes for Black History Month
PhillyVoice: Sinkhole in Port Richmond swallows vehicle, shuts down road
The Inquirer: A SWAT team shot up SEPTA’s new protective cockpit for bus drivers. It passed the test.
NBC10: SEPTA’s GM warns service cuts, fare increases likely if funding doesn’t pass
“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.
The Inquirer: South Jersey commuters want more reliable public transportation, Rutgers study finds – According to a study done in Camden County by Rutgers University, South Jersey residents need more reliable and expanded public transportation services to the less populated southeastern parts of the county. Riders want expanded services between 6 and 9 am along with overnight routes to accommodate shift work.
BillyPenn: City Council calls for faster road safety improvements – Traffic deaths and serious injuries in Philadelphia occur at a much higher rate in comparison to most big U.S cities. Traffic deaths in Philadelphia are averaging 120 or more deaths annually. City Council wants to see faster road improvements and advocates want to see more funding dedicated to the city’s Vision Zero traffic safety program.
The Inquirer: Your SEPTA bus route may soon have a different name – On Sunday, February 23, 2025, SEPTA will launch a new spring schedule and there will be name changes to six bus routes. These routes are currently identified by letters and will change to numbers. After the change, bus routes will be identified by numbers while trains or trolleys will be identified by letters.
Other Stories
Streetsblog USA: Are We Starting to Treat Plane Crashes The Way We Treat Car Crashes?
Pittsburgh Union Progress: State leaders say it will be ‘tough’ year to provide extra money for agencies such as Pittsburgh Regional Transit
PhillyVoice: How to stream the SS United States as it leaves Philadelphia and heads down the Delaware River
Pittsburgh City Paper: Transit Talk: All aboard the midibus
WHYY: Philly airport tops 30 million passengers in 2024, its biggest year since before the pandemic
“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.
The Inquirer: $14 million project will connect the Schuylkill River Trail to Manayunk and Passyunk Ave – Plans to extend the Schuylkill River Trail using Federal funds are underway. This will connect the trail to Manayunk and Passyunk Avenue. These projects can take years to complete, and the construction bid could go out in 2026.
The Inquirer: SEPTA would get $165 million in Josh Shapiro’s state budget proposal, staving off service cuts – Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed an increase of 1.75% of the share of sales-tax revenue to be allocated to public transit. This increase would provide SEPTA with $165 million in new funding and allow the transit agency to avoid service cuts. According to SEPTA’s budget planners, this proposed increase would provide fiscal stability for about five years.
State Smart Transportation Initiative: Congestion pricing could be the only path to managing gridlock – Recent research confirms that congestion pricing may be the best way to ease gridlock. New York’s recently launched congestion pricing program is improving downtown travel, as the number of vehicles is down by 8%. Travel times on major streets are faster, and buses are moving more quickly.
Other Stories
PhillyVoice: SEPTA is renaming some bus and rail routes starting Feb. 24 to create a ‘more intuitive’ network
PlanPhilly: Federal investigators wrap up work at site of plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia
West Philly Local: Speed cameras coming to Baltimore Avenue (State Route 13)
Maryland Today: Autonomous Cars Don’t Understand How Blind People Move Around. A Research Team Is Trying to Boost Safety.
Transport Topics: Trump Halts Program to Expand EV Charger Network
“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.
The Inquirer: Speed cameras added to dangerous roads in West, North, and Northeast Philly – On Monday, Mayor Parker signed legislation allowing Philadelphia to install 42 speed enforcement cameras along U.S Route 13. This is the city’s third-speed camera corridor. Roosevelt Boulevard has had cameras since 2020, and 30 cameras will be installed along Broad Street in March.
BillyPenn: SEPTA trims budget, but will spend $230 million on Key 2.0 – In the next four years, SEPTA plans to replace its current key payment system with Key 2.0 which will be built by a different company. The agency is also finding ways to cut costs and aims to follow through with plans to improve the bus network after being suspended due to the funding crisis.
Streetsblog USA: What a Federal Funding Freeze Would Actually Mean for Sustainable Transportation – States and many US communities rely on Federal funding at varying levels to maintain their transportation needs. A federal freeze could have great implications for many states, even those that are less reliant on Federal dollars.
Other Stories
Streetsblog USA: Everything You Need to Know About Keeping Pedestrians and Bicyclists Safe In Your State, in One Document
90.5 WESA: Pa. legislators eye a tax on bar ‘skill games’ to make up for shortfall in public transit funding
Institute of Transportation & Development Policy: E-Buses Are the Solution for Clean, Equitable Public Transport Everywhere
Reasons to be Cheerful: A Free-Transit Prescription for Healthier Communities
“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.
The Inquirer: SEPTA has cut $27 million to reduce a deficit and boost its case for new state transit money – SEPTA has taken serious measures to cut expenses. This includes freezing salaries and benefits for 1300 executives, senior managers, and department directors, to cut $27 million. SEPTA plans to save $30 million by June 30.
West Philly Local: SEPTA to rename G bus route, other lettered bus routes (updated) – A part of SEPTA Forward plan is to simplify its naming system. Starting next month, SEPTA will be renaming a popular West Philadelphia bus route. The “G: bus will be renamed Bus 63. Other lettered buses will also be changed to numbers. Trolley lines will also be renamed.
WHYY: PATCO is preparing to ‘tap and go’ this summer with new fare collection system – Starting this summer, PATCO will change its Freedom Card payment method to a contactless payment system called “tap and go”. This new payment method provides riders with the opportunity to pay with their phones. Customers who prefer cash will be able to purchase limited-use smart cards from ticket vending machines that will be installed.
Other Stories
The Inquirer: Drexel scientists have developed concrete that can melt snow on its own
WHYY: Philly’s Rail Park raises millions for next phase from state, federal grants
WHYY: SEPTA: Major crimes saw significant drop on Philly’s transit system in 2024
Construction Dive: Nearly $9B in federal transportation funds and loans authorized since Jan. 1
“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 New Year
The Inquirer: Philadelphia had the nation’s 5th worst traffic congestion last year, new report says – According to the annual global traffic scorecard, Philadelphia roads were the fifth most congested in the nation last year. Drivers in Philadelphia lost an average of 77 hours in 2024 due to traffic congestion, which translates to $1,378 per driver in lost time and productivity.
WHYY: New Jersey wants to eliminate traffic deaths in the state by 2040 – Last year New Jersey had a 14% increase in traffic fatalities where 691 people died in vehicle crashes. Pedestrian deaths also increased by 32% from 2023. New Jersey’s governor signed legislation for a 13-member commission to examine and review traffic safety and produce an action plan within a year. This will help the state to achieve its goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040.
BillyPenn: $11 million for EV chargers in final surge of Biden administration grants – The Philadelphia area was awarded another $11.1 million to install public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. This grant will help to cover 100 stations with two ports each. These new stations include 75 in Philadelphia and 25 elsewhere in the region.
Other Stories
BillyPenn: Feds grant nearly $40 million for Parkway, Schuylkill Trail, Rail Park projects
The Inquirer: Who pays when seniors ride SEPTA for free
BillyPenn: SEPTA installs new signs, is trying to fix cards that aren’t working
The Inquirer: Some SEPTA cards are showing that they’re prematurely expired
WHYY: New Jersey commuters face higher tolls, gas tax and public transit fares in 2025
The Inquirer: Proper funding may help SEPTA avoid Key card-style boondoggles | Editorial
