The Hub 11/17/2023: Clean Air Council’s Weekly Round-up of Transportation News
“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.
Have a happy Thanksgiving. We will return with the Hub on December 1st.
CBS news: Search for driver who injured Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. in Philadelphia hit-and-run continues – Sixers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. was injured in a hit-and-run in Center City. Philadelphia has seen 640 hit-and-runs so far this year exceeding the number of hit-and-runs that occurred in 2019. The city needs to make traffic safety a priority and install more traffic calming measures to protect vulnerable road users, like pedestrians and cyclists.
PhillyVoice: People are driving less but traffic deaths have spiked – and lawmakers are puzzled – Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 people are driving fewer miles in comparison to 2019, but traffic deaths have increased as driver behavior has gotten worse. Many states have seen an increase in traffic fatalities, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania which have seen a 26% and 12% increase, respectively. Automated speed enforcement has been shown to be an effective strategy to reduce fatalities, including here in Philadelphia where it has been successful on Roosevelt Boulevard. Some lawmakers are showing resistance to this type of enforcement, but states need all the tools available to achieve their Vision Zero goals.
WHYY: SEPTA’s historic Route 15 trolleys ‘very close’ to returning – SEPTA’s historic green and cream trolleys on Route 15 were supposed to return in September but got delayed, and should be returning by the first quarter of 2024. SEPTA is aiming to have reliable service that commuters can count on when these trolleys return. With SEPTA’s Trolley Modernization program, these historic trolleys will be replaced in the future as delivery for new vehicles is scheduled to start in 2027.
Other Stories
WHYY: $71 million Delaware Memorial Bridge resurfacing project finished, all lanes to reopen this month
The Inquirer: SEPTA will officially use AI to ticket cars parked illegally in bus lanes
BillyPenn: After three years of construction and detours, Betsy Ross Bridge I-95 ramp reopens
PhillyVoice: TWU Local 234 votes to approve new labor contract with SEPTA
The Inquirer: Want your employees to work in the office? Pay for their commutes
