The Hub 7/28/2023: 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.
West Philly Local: Speed cushions being installed near West Philly schools – New traffic calming measures are being installed near local schools around the city of Philadelphia. Speed bumps were installed near several West Philly schools by the Philadelphia Streets Department and approximately 50 schools will receive traffic calming measures by September. This work will continue throughout the summer as a part of the new legislation to make it easier for schools to have traffic calming measures installed.
Route Fifty: Cities paint the way to safer streets – United States’ streets are more dangerous than ever before, with pedestrian deaths at a 40-year high. The current Federal road standards prioritize the speed of traffic over safety of pedestrians and cyclists. This is changing with community groups exploring inexpensive ways such as asphalt art to make streets safer and more enjoyable for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. According to a study from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiatives, after asphalt art projects were installed crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists reduced by an average of 50%. Cities are redesigning streets with colorful crosswalks, murals, pedestrian plazas, curb extensions, and even shortening crossing distances. All these methods are reducing vehicle speeds and improving safety.
Triblive: Penn Avenue getting upgrades, bike lane improvements in Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh’s city officials announced that Penn Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh will receive upgrades that will improve bike lanes and loading zones through a $150,000 mobility enhancement project. There will be improved protection for the bike lanes and better access to loading zones to reduce the number of illegally parked commercial vehicles.
Other Stories
The Inquirer: A SEPTA trolley crashed into a Southwest Philly home, making the fifth crash in a week
WHYY: Springfield Township’s Bethlehem Pike is getting a major upgrade
The Inquirer: Everyone knows the ‘Blue Route’. But what about the other colors?
CityLab + Pursuit: What Would an Amtrak Revival Look Like?
WHYY: Major changes impacting some SEPTA Regional Rail lines
