Weekly Newsletter, Issue 182 🗳 2022 PRIMARY ELECTION INFO Endorsements Paul Prescod for the 8th Senate District Marylouise Isaacson for the 175th House District Joe Hohenstein for the 177th House District Jonathan Lovitz for the 182nd House District Elizabeth Fiedler for the 184th House District Andre Carroll for the 201st House District Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 181 🗳 2022 PRIMARY INFO Did you get your mail-in ballot but are unsure what to fill in? Here are our picks for the primaries and ballot questions. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 180 🎉 HOLIDAY PARTY THIS THURSDAY! We are pleased to announce the Holiday Party and Awards Ceremony, now scheduled for this Thursday, May 5th! It's a great opportunity to meet community leaders and like-minded folks. We will be announcing the winners of the 2021 Urbanist Awards. We will have beverages and snacks, and children over 5 are welcome. Proof of vaccination is required. Tickets are $30 online and $40 at the door (children are free). Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 179 🚌 🛣 BUS ONLY LANES As SETPA's Bus Revolution gets underway, there is a potential problem on the horizon. Many key routes connect disparate parts of the city and are extremely slow. No matter how the bus routes change, the busses will still have to deal with traffic. One great way to speed things up is to add bus only lanes to the street. We need to show the City that we want bus lanes! Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 178 🚲 25th STREET REDESIGN The City has another survey out for redoing 25th Street in South Philly, underneath a viaduct that needs significant repair. There are three different designs being put forward: Design A which has two lanes, parking, and loading zones, Design B with two lanes, protected bikes lanes, and a raised pedestrian crossing, and Design C, which has four lanes and parking and loading on the curb. We feel that Design B has the most benefits for all residents, being available for all kinds of traversal and one of the few city streets with protected bike lanes. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 177 🚲 PARKING PROTECTED BIKE LANES Last Monday, the State Senate Transportation Committee held a hearing about HB140, which amends Title 75 to legalize parking separated bike lanes. Sarah Clark Stuart of the Bicycle Coalition provided testimony in favor of the bill. The City of Philadelphia with Kittleson and Associates has already released a study on parking separated bike lanes as part of a cycling network. There are already some bike lane pilot projects like this around the city that were granted special permissions through PennDOT, like Market St and JFK Blvd. However, passage of HB140 would allow those and other projects to become permanent. If you haven't already, send an email to your elected officials to encourage them to take the vote on this in April. There are only a few days left for legislative sessions... Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 176 ⛽️ GAS TAX REBATES 5th Square members Fae Ehsan and Caitlin Nagle wrote an op-ed in the Inquirer against a possible gas tax rebate, as gasoline prices are on the rise. They felt that it does little to address the structural problems facing low-income Pennsylvanians while exacerbating the climate crisis and lining the pockets of Big Oil. Continue reading

Newsletter, Issue 175½ // April 1, 2022 Thank you for reading our first April Fools Newsletter Issue, if you aren't already a newsletter subscriber, sign up here!  All of these news items are satire, but obviously, with a kernel of truth touching on systemic issues with Philadelphia's broken political process and the way its affects our built environment and its residents. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 175 🔑 SEPTA INSTITUTIONAL PASSES Recently, SEPTA announced Key Advantage, their institutional pass program. Drexel University, Penn Medicine, and Wawa are their first participants for the 6 month trial. The passes will be active May 1st. 5th Square co-chair Jon Geeting and our partners at Transit Forward Philadelphia were instrumental in getting the program up and running. Continue reading

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETuesday, March 22, 2022 5th Square is proud to announce its endorsement for the following candidates for this year's 2022 Pennsylvania primary elections. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 174 📣✅ 2022 ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS Following the polls of our membership, 5th Square is proud to announce its endorsement for the following candidates for this year's 2022 Pennsylvania primary elections. Paul Prescod for the 8th Senate District Marylouise Isaacson for the 175th House District Joe Hohenstein for the 177th House District Jonathan Lovitz for the 182nd House District Elizabeth Fiedler for the 184th House District Andre Carroll for the 201st House District Continue reading

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tanya Seaman yesterday, March 17th, 2022, after a courageous battle with terminal cancer. Tanya was a tireless advocate for Vision Zero in Philadelphia and our world is better off for having her. She was co-founder and past executive director of PhillyCarShare. In her role as co-chair of SOSNA's vision zero committee, she spearheaded multiple roadway safety projects in her community.  Her advocacy and leadership will endure in Philadelphia's built environment with everybody who uses our streets enjoying a safer and more-equitable means of travel. We are posthumously publishing the op-ed she wrote advocating for a safer Washington Avenue. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 173 🚮 LITTER FREE STREETS AT LAST...? The City is holding virtual meetings via Zoom about the upcoming Mechanical Cleaning Pilot Program on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week. The street cleanings will be starting on April 4th in 14 different neighborhoods: North Central, Frankford, Germantown, Kensington, Logan, Nicetown, Paschall, Point Breeze, Port Richmond, South Philly (Lower Moyamensing), Southwest, Strawberry Mansion, West Fairhill, and West Philly. Zoom ID: 836 7765 6475Passcode: 127032Phone dial-in number: 267-831-0333 Tuesday, March 15, at noonTuesday, March 15, at 3 p.m.Wednesday, March 16, at 6 p.m.Thursday, March 17, at 10 a.m.Thursday, March 17 at 6 p.m. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 172 🤝🍻 MEMBERS-ONLY EVENT: 2022 CANDIDATES MEET & GREET Did you sign up for a membership already? Do you want to be a member? Come join us at Buffalo Billiards in Old City and get to know the candidates running in your district, hear their takes on urbanist topics, and sign their petitions to get on the ballot. Thursday, March 10th, 2022 at 6:30 PM Continue reading

5th Square members and volunteers came to SEPTA's FY2022 Capital Budget Amendment hearings today to advocate for Bus Revolution Trolley Modernization Subway Station Accessibility Reimagining Regional Rail Here is the spoken testimony delivered at the virtual public meeting today by 5th Square members and volunteers. Continue reading

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETuesday, March 1, 2022 PHILADELPHIA — Today, Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability (OTIS) announced that they are proceeding with the ‘Mixed Layout’ option for Washington Avenue. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 170 📢 REMINDER: PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE FOR WASHINGTON AVE The city is holding a public Open House for Washington Ave tonight, March 1st @ 6:30 PM, to unveil the final plans. It will be held in person at the Christian Street YMCA (1724 Christian St), following COVID-19 guidelines, and a virtual option on Facebook Live. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 170 📢 PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE FOR WASHINGTON AVE The city announced the location of their public Open House for Washington Ave, where they plan on releasing the final-final-final plans for this roadway on Tuesday, March 1st @ 6:30 PM. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 169 ✍️ KEEP UP THE PRESSURE AT WASHINGTON AVENUE This weekend, we were out on our Washington Ave Families event, making signs and postcards against the street layout changes. Continue reading

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEThursday, February 10, 2022PHILADELPHIA — On Monday, 5th Square established its Safer Washington Avenue Fund, specifically dedicated to electing Philadelphia candidates who will pledge to uphold the City's stated Vision Zero goals. In four days, it has drawn more than $10,000 in donations. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 168 ✉️ WASHINGTON AVENUE IN JEOPARDY We are asking everyone to contact OTIS, the Mayor, and Councilmembers Johnson & Squilla to tell them we want the safest possible option for Washington Ave -- the original 3-lane layout. Continue reading

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESunday, February 6, 2022PHILADELPHIA — Yesterday, the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS) released its update on the Washington Avenue Repaving and Improvement Project which backtracked from their September 2020 “Final Design Decision.” The City’s new plan eliminates the safest roadway layout, the 3-lane layout, from consideration in its design. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 167 🎩 RUN FOR A COMMITTEE PERSON SEAT IN 2022 Want to take the next step up toward neighborhood political leadership, and help 5th Square support great candidates for office in the 2022 and 2023 elections? Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 166 🏗️ BOOK EVENT: CONFESSIONS OF A RECOVERING ENGINEER Join 5th Square and friends for a guest talk by Chuck Marohn, founder of Strong Towns, at Philly Office Retail at 4701 Germantown Ave. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 165 ✅🚲🏙️ JOIN US FOR THE 2022 ELECTIONS Help us decide which Philly-area candidates to support for 2022 races in the PA State Senate and PA State House. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 164 ☃️ HOLIDAY PARTY INVITATION You're invited to our fun year-end Holiday Party at 990 Spring Garden on Wednesday, December 22nd at 7 PM, where we'll be holding off our Third Annual Urbanist Awards ceremony! Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 163 🏆 Nominate Your Faves for Our Annual Urbanist Awards! We are taking nominations for the following categories through Friday, December 10th: Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 162 📛 MEETUP THIS THURSDAY Join 5th Square organizers and volunteers for an informal, in-person meet-up in West Philly this Thursday at 6 PM. This is an indoor/outdoor, family-friendly event where we will provide updates on our recent campaigns and talk about what's in store as we start to wrap up 2021. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 161 📛 NOVEMBER MEETUP Join 5th Square organizers and volunteers for an informal, in-person meet-up in West Philly at 42nd & Pine. This is an indoor/outdoor, family-friendly event where we will provide updates on our recent campaigns and talk about what's in store as we start to wrap up 2021. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 160 🔊 ACTION: TELL PENNDOT TO SUPPORT WALKING, BIKING & TRANSIT PennDOT is seeking input on the Draft Pennsylvania 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) until TOMORROW, 10/19. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 159 👓 PUTTING THE EYE IN TRANSIT THIS WEDNESDAY, October 13, 6:00pm - In Person ⁠Join DesignPhiladelphia for Putting the Eye in Transit: The Research Behind SEPTA’s New Wayfinding System, an in-person panel discussion organized by the Weitzman School. Continue reading

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, September 30, 2021 PHILADELPHIA — Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 158 🤝 MEET-UP TOMORROW! Due to the rain, our outdoor meetup has moved to tomorrow evening. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 157 🍻 MEET-UP THIS THURSDAY 5th Square September Meet-Up // Thursday, Sep 23, 2021 - 6 PM Join 5th Square organizers and volunteers for an informal, in-person meet-up over at Cosmic Cafe & Ciderhouse! Continue reading

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETuesday, September 21, 2021PHILADELPHIA — 5th Square applauds SEPTA leadership’s openness to reimagining the kind of service that regional rail can provide throughout our region. Continue reading

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWednesday, September 8, 2021 PHILADELPHIA — 5th Square congratulates SEPTA on the release of its Wayfinding Master Plan and eagerly awaits its implementation in the coming years on rail transit lines. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 156 🚇 MEET SEPTA METRO SEPTA just unveiled their proposed wayfinding design for our region's rail transit network! We LOVE this new design that simplifies and unifies the Subway, El, Trolleys, and NHSL into a seamless network. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 155 🚪 HOW THE US MADE AFFORDABLE HOMES ILLEGAL The folks at VOX created a great video explaining the nationwide housing shortage and how cities across the US, including Philadelphia, have made it illegal to build more affordable homes. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 154 🚌 TRANSIT FOR ALL PA! PLATFORM Pennsylvania’s transit services could see major cuts next year, and it’s not about Coronavirus—it’s our legislature! Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 153 🔊 YOUR VOICE FOR BETTER BUSES Take Transit Forward Philadelphia's 5-minute bus network survey and you will be entered into a raffle to receive a $50 VISA gift card! Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 152 🔽 VETO THE DOWNZONING OF GIRARD AVE Almost 500 petition signers are urging Mayor Kenney to veto Council President Clarke's bill that aims to downzone much of Girard Avenue east of Broad St. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 151 🚂 JOIN US IN HARRISBURG - FIGHT FOR TRANSIT FUNDING Join 5th Sq and statewide partners for a RALLY in Harrisburg - NEXT TUESDAY 6/29, to fight for PA transit funding. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 150 ✨ WIN: PARKING TAX CUT REJECTED! WHYY and The Inquirer are reporting that City Council is dropping their plan to cut the parking tax! This is an incredible win! Continue reading

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Weekly Newsletter, Issue 149 ACTION💸 REJECT THE PARKING TAX CUT Tell Council to support transit passes for low-income residents, not giveaways to parking executives Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 148 5TH SQUARE IN THE NEWS🚋 A SETBACK FOR TROLLEY MOD Tom Fitzgerald of the Inquirer wrote about how Amazon outbid SEPTA for land in Southwest Philly originally envisioned for a trolley maintenance yard -- and the lasting impacts this may have on modernizing our trolley fleet. Continue reading

Thank you very much for being one of over 650 friends and neighbors who signed our petition calling for a safer Cobbs Creek Parkway. To share some promising news, the City of Philadelphia has requested $800,000 in funding from the federal government for safety improvements at key pedestrian crossings at Cobbs Creek Parkway. Continue reading

5th Square members and volunteers came to SEPTA's Capital Budget hearings today to advocate for Trolley Modernization Subway Station Accessibility Expansion of Trolleybuses Bicycle Amenities at stations Here is the spoken testimony delivered at the virtual public meeting today by 5th Square members and volunteers. This is in addition to a letter delivered by the Transit Forward Philadelphia to SEPTA with comments on the proposed operating and capital budgets. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 147 🚋 SPEAK OUT FOR TROLLEYS! We are looking for speakers who would like to give short (2 minutes max) testimonials emphasizing the importance of clean, safe, accessible, and frequent trolley service. Personal stories are a plus! Continue reading