The Hub 11/5/2021: 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.
Clean Air Council’s pedestrian advocacy group, Feet First Philly, launched the second round of their public space enhancement mini-grant program. Everyone is encouraged to apply and enhance a public space of their choice. Applications are due on 11/8 by 11:59 pm.
U.S Department of Transportation: New Data Showing That Road Fatalities Spiked In First Half Of 2021 – A study released by the US DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that the first half of 2021 (January-June) has the highest recorded traffic fatalities in the history of recording. More than 20,000 people died.
StreetsBlog: New Reconciliation Bill For Sustainable Transport – The House Rules Committee released a revised Build Back Better Act, where programs were cut or reduced. Transportation lost $17 billion of the original $57 billion, and programs such as the ‘Local Transportation Priorities (earmarks)’ were cut.
The Inquirer: Time To Get Moving On The Vision Zero Traffic Safety Plan – The Kenny Administration needs to get moving if they are to make the city’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities by 2030 a reality. Traffic congestion in Philadelphia declined in 2020 due to the pandemic but traffic fatalities almost doubled in comparison to 2019.
StreetsBlog USA: Global Leaders Need To Increase Bike Mode Share – A coalition of 80 organizations wrote to the government leaders, at the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference, that there needs to be more investment in cycling to reduce emissions quickly. Replacing car trips with a bike ride can greatly reduce CO2 emissions.
Axios Philadelphia: Dynamic-priced Parking in Philadelphia – City Councilmember Mark Squilla proposed a pilot program that will introduce dynamic-priced parking to the city of Philadelphia. Philly would join cities like New York City that already have dynamic-priced parking programs.
Image Source: StreetsBlog USA
