The Hub 8/6/2021: 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.
Transit Forward Philadelphia: Transit Forward Philadelphia is seeking feedback from transit users and residents on how SEPTA can make a better bus network. Take the 5-minute survey to make the bus network fast, frequent, and reliable.
The Inquirer: The $1 trillion infrastructure bill – Senators take their first action on the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, as both Democrats and Republicans work to put together amendments for the consideration of the bill. This is a key part of the President’s infrastructure plan.
CityLab: Transit Amenities improve user experience – Frequency, accessibility, and cost are usually the main elements that attract or deter transit riders. But amenities like seating, shelter, and good signage can improve the rider experience and cause the wait time to feel shorter. Also, transit stations without these amenities or hostile environments can create great discomfort for commuters.
PhillyVoice: SEPTA’s Station cleaning Initiative Continues – Last weekend SEPTA closed the 11th Street station on the Market-Frankford line for cleaning, as the agency focuses on cleaning stations across the city as riders return. More cleaning at different stations will take place throughout the rest of the summer.
SmartCitiesDive: Kansas City Streetlight-mounted EV Charger pilot – Electric vehicles will help cities to lower their transportation emissions, but the lack of charging infrastructure creates barriers. Kansas City launched a new pilot project where they installed electric vehicle chargers on light poles to improve equity and accessibility for the many homeowners and renters without access to a garage.
CityLab: Traffic Crashes are Getting Worse – Vehicle advertisements are a part of the problem, as companies boast about how powerful, fast, and intimidating their vehicles are. A study found that approximately 50% of car advertisements in the US promote dangerous driving behavior. These advertisements contribute to the increasing number of traffic fatalities in the country.
BillyPenn: Debate over MLK Drive – Martin Luther King Jr. Drive has been closed to vehicles since March 2020, was partially reopened to vehicles on Wednesday, August 4, 2021. This decision to reopen MLK Drive resulted in an intense debate with both sides agreeing that “the city did not get enough community input.”
Image Source: PhillyVoice
