The Hub 3/29/2024: 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.
The Inquirer: PPA is planning a crackdown on sidewalk parking and blocked curb ramps that make it hard for people with disabilities to get around – The Philadelphia Parking Authority(PPA) will target violators that park on sidewalks and block curb cuts. The PPA and their partner Variety will officially announce in mid-April the new program the “Mobility and Access Initiative” through a series of public announcements. The agency will hire 30 new enforcement officers to focus on vehicles illegally parked on sidewalks and blocking ADA-accessible curbs. Enforcement will start in May, providing a three to four week warning period after the official announcement. Illegal parking greatly affects pedestrians, especially vulnerable populations including people with disabilities, older adults, and children.
The Morning Call: Long-awaited Lehigh Valley passenger train study identifies 5 ‘most likely’ routes. See the report. – The Lehigh Valley Passenger Rail Feasibility Analysis that was recently unveiled was created by PennDOT and consulting company WSP. This study identified the five most likely routes to be:
- Allentown to New York via Hackettstown
- Allentown to New York via High Bridge
- Allentown to Philadelphia via Lansdale
- Allentown to Philadelphia via Norristown
- Allentown to Reading
There is still a long process from this report to construction but the estimated cost for the five routes ranges from $450 million to $739 million, with the Philadelphia routes being more expensive.
BillyPenn: “This isn’t route 420”: Smoke-Free SEPTA works to curb smoking on public transit – Complaints about smoking on SEPTA have increased drastically from approximately 10 complaints per month in 2017 to about 260 complaints per month in 2024. In 2022 the transit agency partnered with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, to launch a no-smoking campaign called “Respect the Ride”. It is being continued today with new branding as “Smoke-Free SEPTA” and will include redesigned signage, verbal announcements, and increased police presence. This campaign aims to encourage passengers to stop smoking on SEPTA platforms and vehicles.
Other Stories
The Inquirer: ‘Always in the back of my mind’: Bus-related shootings fall hard on SEPTA drivers
WHYY: New safety initiative announced to reduce crashes along N.J.’s White Horse Pike
Next City: Philly’s Fast and Furious Thoroughfare
Pittsburgh Magazine: POGOH Bikeshare Hits 1 Million Rides, Proposes 53 New Stations
The Inquirer: Philly-area port authority plans to review bridge safety features in the wake of Baltimore bridge collapse
