Newsletter: 🚇 Meet SEPTA Metro / 🗺️ Germantown's Proposed Rezoning / 🍻 Our Sept Meet-Up
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.
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Newsletter: 🚍 Bus-Only Lanes Finally Here! / 🚪 How the US Made Affordable Homes Illegal / 🛣️ MLK Drive Radio Hour
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.
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Newsletter: 🚌 PA Turnpike Makes Last $450M Transit Payment / 🛣️ Washington Ave Safety Delays / 🚉 A Tale of Two Transit Systems / 🎸 A Tune for SEPTA
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!
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Newsletter: 🔊 Better Buses Survey / 🛣️ Last Day for Walnut & Chestnut / 🔽 Girard Petition Reaches 800
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!
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Newsletter: 🔽 Mayor Kenney, Veto the Downzoning of Girard Ave / 💳SEPTA Key 2.0 / 🌞 Our Harrisburg Transit Funding Rally
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.
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Newsletter: 🚂 Transit Rally In Harrisburg / 🛣️ Road Safety for Walnut & Chestnut / 📈 SEPTA need to grow ridership / 💄 Penn Center's Makeover
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.
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Newsletter: ✨ WIN: Parking Tax Cut Rejected! / 🛣️ Bike Lanes for Walnut & Chestnut / 🚂 Fight for Transit Funding In Harrisburg
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!
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Newsletter: 💸 Reject Cuts to the Parking Tax / 🖼️ Ben Franklin Pkwy Revamp / 🏘️ Affordable Units Approved for West Philly
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
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Newsletter: 🚋 A Setback for Trolleys / 🛣️ The Return of Cars / 🚂 Reforming Commuter Rail
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.
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🚧 More Safety Improvements for Cobbs Creek Parkway! 🚧
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.
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Testimony for SEPTA's FY2022 Capital Budget
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.
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Newsletter: 🚋 Speak Out for Trolleys / 🅿️ Cutting the Parking Tax is a Bad Idea / 🌇 Defending Affordable Units
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!
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Newsletter: 🗳️ Election Day Next Tuesday / 🌇 In Defense of Affordable Housing / 🏞️ Keep MLK Open for People
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 146
🗳️ PRIMARY ELECTION DAY INFO
The primary election is NEXT TUESDAY, May 18, 2021.
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Newsletter: 👕 Fresh Shirt Offer / 🌳 Rally for Livable Communities / 🗳️ Primary Election Info / 🍽️ Streeteries & Accessibility
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 145
👕 SHOW OFF YOUR URBANIST CRED WITH OUR NEW T-SHIRT!
Show your support for better city planning, transit, bike lanes and housing with our new T-Shirt designed by Philly-based artist Miriam Singer!
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Press Release: SEPTA FY 2022 Capital Budget
5th Square is providing the following press release in reaction to the newly-released SEPTA FY 2022-2033 Capital Budget.
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Newsletter: 🏛️ Our Budget Priorities for a More Livable City | 👕 Membership Bonus Offer | 🔫 Firearm Policy Event Tomorrow | 🚏 The Worst Bus Stop
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 144
🏛️ ACTION: SUPPORT OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR SAFETY, HEALTH & MOBILITY
Last week, Mayor Kenney delivered his annual budget address to City Council and 5th Square is excited to see many of our top priorities in the Mayor's proposal.
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Newsletter: 🚋 Help Save Our Trolleys | 🌉 Biden's Infrastructure Plan & Philly | ⛽ Revising The Gas Tax
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 143
🚋 ACTION: HELP SAVE OUR TROLLEY SERVICE
SEPTA’s purchase of the site at 6901 Elmwood Avenue would grow access to jobs, drive economic development, and reduce car reliance throughout the region.
We need your help to make this happen
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An Urbanist Transgender Day of Visibility
Land use, public spaces, and transportation issues have concrete ramifications for transgender residents.
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Newsletter: 🚋 We Deserve Modern Trolley Service | 🚶 Demand Better Sidewalks | 🏙️ Philly Needs More Housing
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 142
🚋 WE DESERVE MODERN TROLLEY SERVICE
Our Trolley Mod Petition has garnered over 500 signatures in a week! We need to show our local congressional reps overwhelming community support for this most important transit project.
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Newsletter: 🚋 #FundTrolleyMod | 🛣️ PennDOT's Dubious Widening Projects | 🚉 MFL Somerset Stop Closed
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 141
🚋 FUND TROLLEY MODERNIZATION
The Philadelphia region deserves reliable, accessible, and frequent trolley service.
We call on Congress to authorize direct financial support for SEPTA’s Trolley Modernization Project. We are also asking SEPTA to prioritize Trolley Modernization and increase their capital budget investment allocation for this important project.
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🚋 SEPTA's Trolleys are Seriously Outdated, Let's Push for a Better System
We are announcing the launch of our campaign for funding SEPTA’s Trolley Modernization Project starting with an online petition.
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Press Release: Closure of Somerset MFL Station
5th Square is providing the following press release in reaction to the news that SEPTA may temporarily close Kensington’s Somerset Station over safety issues.
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Newsletter: 🚇 March Meet-Up is this Thursday | 🌆 Our Grid Magazine Feature | 🛣️ Redesigning Ben Franklin Pkwy | 🚲 Sign the MLK Drive Petition
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 140
Our March meet-up is THIS THURSDAY! We are honored to host special guests from the Mayor's Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, & Sustainability:
Chris Puchalsky, Director of Policy & Strategic Initiatives
Andrew Simpson, Transit Policy Planner
They will introduce us to the new Philadelphia Transit Plan which details a vision for our region’s transit system going forward to 2045.
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Reimagining the Ben Franklin Parkway
In the 100-plus years since Jacques Gréber designed the Ben Franklin Parkway, the ways in which Philadelphians have moved in and utilized public spaces has changed dramatically.
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Newsletter: 🚇 March Meet-Up & City Transit Plan | 🏞️ Cobbs Creek Pkwy Progress | 🚃 SEPTA's Use of Covid Funding
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 139
At our March meet-up, we are honored to host special guests from the Mayor's Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, & Sustainability:
Chris Puchalsky, Director of Policy & Strategic Initiatives
Andrew Simpson, Transit Policy Planner
They will introduce us to the new Philadelphia Transit Plan which details a vision for our region’s transit system going forward to 2045.
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Press Release: SEPTA Strategic Plan 2021-2026
5th Square is providing the following press release in reaction to newly-released SEPTA 2021-2026 Strategic Plan.
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Press Release: Philadelphia Transit Plan Announcement
5th Square is providing the following press release in reaction to newly-released City Transit Plan:
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Newsletter: 🏠 Land Value Tax Webinar | 🚇 The City's New Transit Plan | 🚲 Petition for Spring Garden St Safety | 🚧 Reimagine MLK Drive
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 138
🏠 TUESDAY: LAND VALUE TAX IN PHILLY
Join the Center for Property Tax Reform for a FREE webinar in partnership with 5th Square to discuss Land Value Tax in the city of Philadelphia.
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City Council's 2021 Zoning Reform: Prerogative Spreads to the Code
The 2021 revisions to the City's Zoning Code are great in principle, but Council district carve-outs threaten the very future of comprehensive citywide planning.
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Newsletter: 🚍 5th Square Meet-Up Tomorrow | 🏠 ADU Webinar | 🚧 Spring Garden St Survey Results
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 137
🚍 TOMORROW: February Monthly Zoom Meet-up & Better Buses Campaign Intro
5th Square, Philly's urbanist PAC and advocacy organization, is hosting our February monthly meet-up on Zoom TOMORROW evening, February 18th, from 7-8pm, and this month we'll be talking transit, with a focus on SEPTA's upcoming redesign of our region's bus network.
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Newsletter: 🏘️🏡🏚️ Say 'NO' to Council's New Zoning Commission | 💥 SEPTA CHW Line is Returning | 🚲 Grays Ferry Bridge's New Bike Lane
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 136
ACTION: 🏘️🏡🏚️ SAY 'NO' TO COUNCIL'S NEW ZONING COMMISSION
Council President Darrell Clarke and Republican Councilmember Brian O’Neill are proposing a resolution (#21003800) in City Council TOMORROW that would authorize a council-led Zoning Code Review Commission that could reverse Philadelphia's progress on climate, transportation, and affordability issues if supporters get their way.
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🚲 Grays Ferry Bridge 🌉 Protected Bike Lane is Here!
PennDOT just finished their work on the Grays Ferry Avenue Bridge and the new westbound protected bike lane looks amazing!
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💥 BIG NEWS 💥 SEPTA Chestnut Hill West Line is Coming Back!
Thank you for signing our petition calling on SEPTA to adapt to the pandemic and grow its ridership by Restoring Service & Lowering Fares on Regional Rail.
We have some big news to share!
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Newsletter: 🚉 The Future of Regional Rail | 🏘️ The Rise of the Zoning 'Overlay' | 💰 Land Value Tax Event
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 135
5TH SQUARE IN THE NEWS - 🚉 The Future of Regional Rail
The Inquirer's Pat Madej poses the existential question facing SEPTA's regional rail system -- Without commuters, what will happen to SEPTA Regional Rail?
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Newsletter: 🚵 Demand Safer Streets for Frankford | 🏗️ How to Shape Development in 2021 | 📽️ Bicycle Film Festival
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 134
ACTION
PennDOT’s is accepting public comment on their I-95 proposal for road work near the Frankford Arsenal in Northeast Philly.
🚵♀️ Demand safe bike and pedestrian facilities here!
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Regional Rail Update: DVRPC to study Regional Rail fare equity and restructuring!
We have some small but exciting news to share about our campaign to reform regional rail fares and service in our region.As part of their FY2022 Work Program (still open for public comment), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) will conduct a study of regional rail fare equity and restructuring.
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Newsletter: 🚸 Mantua Traffic Safety Project | 🚴 MLK Drive Usage Study | ❄️ Winter Friendly Cities
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 133
🚸 MANTUA TRAFFIC SAFETY PROJECT
Do you live, work, or travel through the Mantua neighborhood in West Philly?
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Newsletter: 📅 2020 Year In Review | 🚲 ENDING TODAY - Spring Garden St Survey
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 132
Note: This newsletter will be a special one with two urgent action items and a celebration of all the work we have done in the past year!
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⭐🏆⭐ Announcing Our 2020 Urbanist Award Winners!
Thank you to everyone who attended our year-end Holiday Party and Urbanist Awards ceremony.
We are giving one last shout-out to all the nominees and the winners from the night's awards ceremony. We want to thank each one of the following nominees for their outstanding contributions to Philadelphia’s urbanist movement in 2020!
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Newsletter: You Are Invited! ❄️Annual Holiday Party + Urbanist Awards | 🦺 Spring Garden Street Needs Your Input | 🌇 Help Steer Philly's New Comprehensive Plan
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 131
❄️ HOLIDAY PARTY + 2020 URBANIST AWARDS
Join 5th Square for our year-end Holiday Party over Zoom on Thursday, December 17th at 6:00 PM and our second annual Urbanist Awards ceremony!
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Newsletter: 🏆 Seeking Urbanist Awards Nominations | 🚶 Support Safer Streets for East Kensington | 📋 Our 2020 Post-Election Survey | 🚍 SEPTA Covid-19 Travel Survey
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 130
🏆 Nominate Your Faves for Our Annual Urbanist Awards!
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Newsletter: 🏛️ President-Elect Biden's Transit Plans | 🌉 Ben Franklin Bridge Input | 🚂 Advocate for Rail Service to Allentown | 🏭 Testify to Reduce PA's Greenhouse Gases
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 129
🏛️ PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN'S TRANSIT PLANS
It was thrilling to see the pivotal role our region played in tipping the votes for President-elect Joe Biden in last week's Presidential election, and 5th Square is proud of the work our members and volunteers did helping turn out the vote in their communities on Election Day.
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Newsletter: 🏞️ Win for Safety on Cobbs Creek Pkwy | 🌆 Downzoning for Society Hill | 🌉 Grays Ferry Bridge Victory in the News
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 128
🏞️ WIN FOR SAFETY ON COBBS CREEK PKWY
At a virtual stakeholder meeting hosted by Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center last Thursday, PennDOT and the Philadelphia Streets Department shared some promising plans to improve safety along Cobbs Creek Parkway.
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WIN for Cobbs Creek Parkway!
We have exciting news to share about Cobbs Creek Parkway!
At a virtual stakeholder meeting hosted by Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Center last Thursday, PennDOT and the Philadelphia Streets Department shared some promising plans to improve safety along Cobbs Creek Parkway.
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What Society Hill’s totally “not racist” exclusionary zoning bill will actually do
Larry Spector has penned an impassioned and very lawyerly letter to the mayor about how he and his coalition have worked really hard to come up with a totally awesome bill that is totally not about keeping people out of Society Hill. They really need it to get passed because they worked really hard on it for two whole years.
We won’t go line-by-line through Spector’s screed, and we won’t try to guess at the coalition’s intentions or motivations. (They claim something to do with historic preservation, which they hope to accomplish by requiring new parking lots to be built.) We will lay out some facts of the bill, and the impact it will have. You can decide whether this bill would be “not racist” and “not exclusionary”.
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Newsletter: 🌆 Mayor Kenney: Veto Exclusionary Zoning Overlay in Society Hill | 🚉 Read Our Op-Ed on Regional Rail Equity |🗳️ Look Up Your New Polling Place
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 127
🌆 TELL MAYOR KENNEY: VETO EXCLUSIONARY ZONING OVERLAY IN SOCIETY HILL
Councilmanic Prerogative won another round for exclusionary zoning, and City Council passed Councilmember Mark Squilla's zoning overlay for Society Hill.
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Newsletter: 🌆 Reject Exclusionary Zoning in Society Hill | 🚲Bike Lane Bill Update | 🛣️ Road Diet WIN for Washington Ave | 🏞️ Making Headway on Cobbs Creek Pkwy
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 126
🌆 REJECT EXCLUSIONARY ZONING IN SOCIETY HILL
Society Hill NIMBY ('Not in My Back Yard') activists have been lobbying Councilmember Mark Squilla to help them make their neighborhood even more exclusive. Despite the Mayor vetoing this push last year, the bill is back and likely to pass City Council THIS THURSDAY.
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