PA House 192: Morgan Cephas Response to 5th Square Questionnaire

Candidate Name:

Morgan Cephas

What office are you seeking?

192nd

Candidate Introduction:

I was born and raised in the West Philadelphia section of the City. While growing up in Wynnefield, our neighborhood had limited access to the goods and services needed to thrive, i.e., employment, recreation spaces, grocery stores, high performing schools, etc. Given these realities, I understood early on that communities can only thrive if they have access quality schools, public spaces and reliable, safe and affordable transit opportunities. Prior to taking office, I worked in the public and non-profit sector for ten years building communities and restoring neighborhoods from the ground up. Working with Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. and the Philadelphia Youth Network, I have driven a significant number of capital resources into West Philadelphia via neighborhood business corridors and local recreation centers; helped to usher in the first special admission school into West Philadelphia, i.e., Science Leadership Academy, Beeber; and helped to increase the City's budget for summer job opportunities. After leaving the Philadelphia Youth, I had the privilege of running for office and being elected by the residents of the 192nd Legislative District in 2016. Since taking office, I have prioritize the following public policy issues, dignity for incarcerated women, maternal health, access to quality childcare, affordable housing and community development. While in office I have been able to serve over 13,000 residents; secured over $12m in capital investment for the district and have authored several legislative bills that work to improve the lives of Pennsylvanians.

Question 1

Some of Philadelphia’s most dangerous streets for pedestrians and cyclists based on injury statistics are PennDOT-owned arterials, many of which are major downtown streets and commercial corridors running through densely-populated parts of Philadelphia. So far, PennDOT has been indifferent to calls from safety advocates for the kinds of engineering changes to these roads that would calm traffic. Would you use your position to support advocates' calls for safer urban arterials? What types of legislative and policy changes are needed to correct this problem at PennDOT? (https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/philadelphia-traffic-fatalities-penndot-20190208.html)

During my tenure as a State Representative, I've had at least three fatal vehicular accidents happen along heavily traveled corridors in my district. The incidents involved an 8 year old student crossing the 63rd Street corridor, a grandmother stepping off a trolley along the West Philadelphia portion of Lansdowne Ave and a Saint Joseph University student crossing City Ave. The 192nd is home to several highways and heavily traveled transit nodes connecting West Philadelphia residents to employment, social and cultural opportunities both in the City and throughout the surrounding counties. Given the need to create safer and reliable urban arterials, this issue has become a priority for my legislative and public policy agenda. Recently, I have introduced legislation to increase fines for individuals running traffic signals and for vehicles passing trolley cars on the wrong side. Additionally, I have supported both capital and planning grants to add traffic calming measures along several corridors. Lastly, I am working with both the Green Hill and Overbrook Farms on a traffic study to assess the safety needs of the area.

Question 2

Pennsylvania recently passed legislation enabling automated speed enforcement on Roosevelt Blvd and highway work zones. Do you support the expansion of automated speed enforcement cameras to School Zones and on other High Injury Network streets throughout Philadelphia? (https://whyy.org/articles/roosevelt-boulevard-speed-cameras-represent-rare-bipartisan-win/)

☒ Yes
☐ No

Comment:

Again, given the recent incidents that have occurred in my district, I am fully committed to expanding automate speed enforcement cameras. Additionally, would support a more streamlined process based on data and enforcement needs as it relates to the continued authorization of automated speed cameras. Requiring legislation to be passed in Harrisburg can be a very cumbersome process.

Question 3

Pennsylvania is the only state in the U.S. that bans local law enforcement from using radar for vehicle speed enforcement. Do you support lifting this ban? (https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/06/is-2019-the-year-local-cops-in-pa-will-get-radar.html)

☒ Yes
☐ No

Comment:

Question 4

Do you support state enabling legislation to allow Philadelphia and other cities to use cameras for congestion-related enforcement? Areas that should be enforced by camera include bus zones, travel lanes, corner clearances, crosswalks, delivery zones, and non-curb pickups and drop-offs by ride-hailing drivers. Currently, the law allows for enforcement only upon the observation of an officer. Cameras allow a more cost-efficient alternative and are less subject to human and systemic biases. (https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/traffic-congestion-philadelphia-parking-tickets-ppa-20191211.html)

☒ Yes
☐ No

Comment:

Question 5

Act 89 transportation funds have historically been diverted to pay the state police budget, reducing the funds available to pay for public transit and road projects. What is the best way to safeguard this revenue to ensure that Commonwealth residents see all the transportation improvements they were promised when state lawmakers raised the gas tax? (https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/can-you-pay-for-infrastructure-repairs-without-raising-state-taxes-in-new-plan-house-gop-says-yes/)

I believe the General Assembly should support the Governor Wolf's proposal to require municipalities using State Police to pay for their services. Additionally, we need to pass legislation requiring the General Assembly to approve any fund transfers over a certain percent from funds dedicated for transportation and infrastructure repairs. Given the infrastructure needs across Pennsylvania, the General Assembly must get serious on developing a strategy to fully fund our public transit and roadway needs given the impact these issues have on the viability of our economy.

Question 6

What are some of your own ideas for enhancing mobility and improving road safety in your district and Philadelphia more broadly?

Recently I have worked with various community groups to financial invest in traffic calming measures including signalization intersections, creating bump outs, installing rumble strips, repainting bike lanes and changing the zoning along commercial corridors in an effort to adjust the density requirements. Again, over the next several months I will be working with area community groups and the City of Philadelphia on traffic studies and the rebuilding of the 59th street bridge. Additionally, I will work with local City Councilmembers to establish a local infrastructure and public transit bank and create State legislation to incentive it's creation, stability and investment.

Question 7

Act 44, which transfers $450 million a year from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to public transit agencies, is set to expire in 2022. What is your plan to safeguard and expand the state revenue dedicated to public transit after this law expires? (https://wskg.org/news/pa-turnpike-escapes-catastrophic-lawsuit-but-remains-heavily-in-debt/)

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to raise the questions to PennDot about the reauthorization of Act 44 and other revenue streams being explored during the upcoming budget hearings. Additionally, I would look into legislation that would incentive municipalities to establish local taxes to pay for public transit by offering some level of a match.

Question 8

Do you support dedicated transit lanes and legislation enabling “Automated Transit Lane Enforcement” cameras mounted on transit vehicles and on roadsides to deter other vehicles from using these lanes? (https://mobilitylab.org/2018/09/17/automated-bus-lane-enforcement-is-more-effective-than-police-among-other-findings/)

☒ Yes
☐ No

Comment:

Question 9

Do you support state enabling legislation for congestion pricing, permitting municipalities and regions to institute tolls on automobiles entering into the most congested areas, and using the funds for improvements to transit, and for infrastructure for walking and bicycling? (https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/congestion-pricing-new-york-philadelphia-traffic-20190402.html)

☐ Yes
☐ No
☒ Other: Need additional information

Comment:

I would be interested in exploring a proposal as it relates to this issue. Living in a city with a poverty rate of 24%, I get concerned with adding fees and/or tolls to residents and communities that travel through these congested areas to connect to different parts of the City.

Question 10

SEPTA has the capability to expand its rapid transit service by simply running its commuter rail lines more frequently and integrating its fares with subways and buses. But to do so, the agency will need to prioritize certain capital improvements and implement some operational reforms. Do you support such an expansion for our city's train service? (https://whyy.org/articles/analysis-how-septa-can-turn-regional-rail-in-philly-into-high-frequency-rapid-transit/)

☒ Yes
☐ No

As a legislator, how would you use the power of your office to advance those changes, instead of retaining the current structure which caters more to professional-class suburban commuters?

Given the upcoming expiration of Act 44, I would use this time as an opportunity to re-examine the entire system so public transit is more accessible, efficient and equitable for the urban ridership.

Question 11

What are some of your own ideas for solutions to improve the quality (frequency, speed, and accessibility) of transit service in your district and Philadelphia more broadly?

With working with area organizations, I would to advocate expand car sharing and big sharing in my immediate neighborhoods and shopping centers; further invest in technology to better connect commuters to reliable transit information; designate protected bus and bike lanes along certain highways; realign and assess congested transit areas i.e. 52nd and Lancaster and explore ways to integrate the fare system with the Regional Rail, Market Frankford Lines, Buses and Trolleys.

Question 12

California’s legislature recently introduced a pro-housing bill SB 50, which would preempt local zoning restrictions on dense housing construction near high-quality transit, and in high-opportunity areas with large concentrations of jobs or in-demand school districts. Similar bills have also been introduced by progressive lawmakers in Oregon, Washington, Maryland, and Virginia to preempt local exclusionary zoning policies like apartment bans, parking quotas, and minimum lot size rules from the state level. Do you support amending Pennsylvania’s Municipal Planning Code to preempt local exclusionary zoning policies in this way, with the goal of allowing transit-oriented housing near state-funded transit and commuter rail stations? (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/01/sb50-california/604786/)

☒ Yes
☐ No

Comment:

Question 13

The century-old Separations Act requires multiple bids for all different parts of public construction projects in Pennsylvania, which some state officials believe makes public works projects unnecessarily expensive and inefficient, and precluding Design-Build firms from bidding on public construction projects. Will you support and advocate for repeal of the Separations Act? (https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/opinion/contributors/2017/03/07/oped-s-time-repeal-separations-act-pa/98857412/)

☐ Yes
☐ No
☒ Other: Need additional information

Comment:

Question 14

Governor Tom Wolf has announced his intentions for Pennsylvania to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative—a regional cap and trade program that could push PA to cut emissions more aggressively, while generating revenue for public transit, clean energy, and other priorities. Joining RGGI would likely require an act of the state legislature, and different interest groups within the Democratic Party have taken different positions on this, with some building trades unions on one side and environmental groups on the other. If elected, would you support legislation to join RGGI?(https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2019/10/03/gov-wolf-pennsylvania-regional-greenhouse-gas-initiative/)

☒ Yes
☐ No

Comment:

Question 15

Tell us more about what you bring to the table as an ally for urbanist politics in Harrisburg. What makes you the right person to advance the urbanist movement’s goals politically or substantively at the state level? How would you build support for pro-urbanist policies among your colleagues from outside our region?

As I stated in my introduction, I grew up understanding the importance of accessible, reliable and affordable transportation for working families. As a young person, I watched the portion of the West Philadelphia I currently represent lose access to Center City due to a record level of snow falling in . At that point I understood the role pubic transit and infrastructure played in families being able to access a quality education, employment and every day good and services. As State Representative, I realize families continue to have these same challenges which is why this is a top priority issue. My district has portions of the regional rail, portions of the market-frankford transit line, buses and trolleys with families and seniors from Philadelphia connecting on a daily basis. Additionally, my district borders several other counties which brings in several 1,000 non-Philadelphian commuters through my district. The way I believe I could help build a pro-urbanist agenda in the Commonwealth, is by advocating for these issues from an economic and equity prospective.