Hello Philadelphia urbanists! Attend our member welcome & volunteer orientation. 

At this meeting, we will:

1. Introduce our organization and recent campaigns.
2. Onboard folks with our tech.
3. Discuss and brainstorm upcoming 5th Square priorities and and volunteer opportunities.

We hope to see you at this meeting, but if you can't make it, don't fret! There will be a similar meetings in subsequent months.

This meeting will be HYBRID: both in-person at Indy Hall and on virtual on Zoom -- RSVP here for info on both. 

Public & Active Transportation:

• L-Line (Market-Frankford Line) to Spring Garden Station
• G-Line (15 Trolley) is a 10 minute walk away
• Bus routes: 5, 25, 43, 57
• Indego Station and abundant bicycle racks on 2nd & Brown

Join us in person or online as we advocate for a better and fairer budget at SEPTA's FY2026 Operating Budget, Fare Increase & Service Reduction Hearings.

The schedule for the first Fiscal Year 2026 Operating, Fare Increase & Service Reductions Budget Public Hearings are May 19 at 11am, and again at 5pm in the SEPTA Board Room.

5th Square is seeking volunteers who can make public comment at these hearings either in person or online! Let us know if you can help by submitting your RSVP, and we will reach out to you with talking points and tips.

The Operating, Fare Increase & Service Reductions Public Hearings can be attended either in-person in the Board Room at SEPTA Headquarters, or virtually utilizing WebEx. 

At the hearings SEPTA will be presenting the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Operations Budget and 2026-2027 Fare increases and service reductions. The proposed budgets will have substantial fare increases, service line cuts, and cuts to system-wide frequency. These changes, if enacted, would have far-reaching and devastating consequences for Philadelphia and the greater Delaware Valley region. 

People wishing to attend and speak at the morning and afternoon sessions in-person or via WebEx must register by the start time on the day of the meetings. 

SEPTA representatives will be available at each hearing for 4 hours to listen to public comments and testimony regarding the proposed budget. A sign language interpreter will be present during the public hearings for both in-person and online attendance.

Public Participation Details:

• Individuals wishing to attend a public hearing virtually via WebEx must sign up online to do so.
  
  Click the link to Register for the 11AM meeting and select virtual.
  
  If you wish to attend the second meeting at 5PM Register Here.
  
  
• Individuals who want to attend in-person should arrive at the SEPTA Board Room by 10:00 AM for the morning meeting and 4:00 PM for the afternoon meeting. Registering to attend in person is recommended as the Board Room limit is 150.
  
  For the 11 AM meeting Register Here and select in person, do the same if you wish to Register for the 5PM Meeting
  
  
• Anyone who cannot attend either meeting but wants to provide comments or testimony about the Capital Budget can do so either by email or phone.
  
  
  • To call in dial 215-580-7772 and submit comments or testimony via voicemail message
    
    
  • To email comments send a message to [email protected]

All comments and testimony received will become part of the public record and will be forwarded to the Hearing Examiner. To Be included in the official public record comments must be received by Wednesday May 28, 2025 by 5:00 PM

Join us in person or online as we advocate for a better and fairer budget at SEPTA's FY2026 Operating Budget, Fare Increase & Service Reduction Hearings.

The schedule for the second Fiscal Year 2026 Operating, Fare Increase & Service Reductions Budget Public Hearings are May 20 at 10am, and again at 4pm in the SEPTA Board Room.

5th Square is seeking volunteers who can make public comment at these hearings either in person or online! Let us know if you can help by submitting your RSVP, and we will reach out to you with talking points and tips.

The Operating, Fare Increase & Service Reductions Public Hearings can be attended either in-person in the Board Room at SEPTA Headquarters, or virtually utilizing WebEx. 

At the hearings SEPTA will be presenting the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Operations Budget and 2026-2027 Fare increases and service reductions. The proposed budgets will have substantial fare increases, service line cuts, and cuts to system-wide frequency. These changes, if enacted, would have far-reaching and devastating consequences for Philadelphia and the greater Delaware Valley region. 

People wishing to attend and speak at the morning and afternoon sessions in-person or via WebEx must register by the start time on the day of the meetings. 

SEPTA representatives will be available at each hearing for 4 hours to listen to public comments and testimony regarding the proposed budget. A sign language interpreter will be present during the public hearings for both in-person and online attendance.

Public Participation Details:

• Individuals wishing to attend a public hearing virtually via WebEx must sign up online to do so.
  
  Click the link to Register for the 10AM meeting and select virtual.
  
  If you wish to attend the second meeting at 4PM Register Here.
  
  
• Individuals who want to attend in-person should arrive at the SEPTA Board Room by 10:00 AM for the morning meeting and 4:00 PM for the afternoon meeting. Registering to attend in person is recommended as the Board Room limit is 150.
  
  For the 10 AM meeting Register Here and select in person, do the same if you wish to Register for the 4PM Meeting
  
  
• Anyone who cannot attend either meeting but wants to provide comments or testimony about the Capital Budget can do so either by email or phone.
  
  
  • To call in dial 215-580-7772 and submit comments or testimony via voicemail message
    
    
  • To email comments send a message to [email protected]

All comments and testimony received will become part of the public record and will be forwarded to the Hearing Examiner. To Be included in the official public record comments must be received by Wednesday May 28, 2025 by 5:00 PM

Join us in person or online via WebEx as we advocate for better allocation and preservation of Capital funds at SEPTA's FY2026 Capital Budget Hearings.

The schedule for Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Budget Public Hearings is May 21 at 10am, and again at 4pm in the SEPTA Board Room.

5th Square is seeking volunteers who can make public comment at these hearings either in person or online! Let us know if you can help by submitting your RSVP, and we will reach out to you with talking points and tips.

The Capital Budget Public Hearings can be attended either in-person in the Board Room at SEPTA Headquarters, or virtually utilizing WebEx. 

At the hearings SEPTA will be presenting the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Budget and 2026-2027 Capital Programs. The proposed budgets will impact projects like station improvements and vehicle acquisitions that SEPTA can implement over the coming year. People wishing to attend and speak at the morning and afternoon sessions in-person or via WebEx must register by the start time on the day of the meetings. 

SEPTA representatives will be available at each hearing to listen to public comments and testimony regarding the proposed budget. A sign language interpreter will be present during the public hearings for both in-person and online attendance.

Public Participation Details:

• Individuals wishing to attend a public hearing virtually via WebEx must sign up online to do so.
  
  Click the link to Register for the 10AM meeting and select virtual.
  
  If you wish to attend the second meeting at 4PM Register Here.
  
  
• Individuals who want to attend in-person should arrive at the SEPTA Board Room by 10:00 AM for the morning meeting and 4:00 PM for the afternoon meeting. Registering to attend in person is recommended as the Board Room limit is 150.
  
  For the 10AM meeting Register Here and select in person, do the same if you wish to Register for the 4PM Meeting
  
  
• Anyone who cannot attend either meeting but wants to provide comments or testimony about the Capital Budget can do so either by email or phone.
  
  
  • To call in dial 215-580-7772 and submit comments or testimony via voicemail message
    
    
  • To email comments send a message to [email protected]

All comments and testimony received will become part of the public record and will be forwarded to the Hearing Examiner. To Be included in the official public record comments must be received by Wednesday May 28, 2025 by 5:00 PM

Join 5th Square organizers and volunteers for an informal, in-person meet-up over at Resurrection Philadelphia’s Annex!  This is an indoor/outdoor, family-friendly event.

At this meetup we will be welcoming staff from the offices of Councilmembers Gauthier & O'Rourke who will speak on City SEPTA Funding and advocacy around the Zero Fare Program.

Light Refreshments / Beer / Pizza served with a $10 suggested donation.

These meet-ups are casual social gatherings, and are intended as a fun way for new and existing supporters to connect with other people involved with 5th Square and urbanist issues in Philadelphia, either professionally or in a volunteer/activist capacity, and learn more about what our all-volunteer organization is up to. If you've been meaning to check out one of our events or meetings but haven't made it out yet, this will be a good first one to come to. And please bring a friend or two!

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

• Accessible via SEPTA trolleys 11, 13, 34, and 36
• SEPTA bus routes 30 and 42.

RSVP Here in advance or just show up and sign in!