🚲 REMOVE HB140 AMENDMENT
📝 UPCOMING BUS IMPROVEMENT STUDY
In the DVRPC Transportation Improvement Plan, the North Philadelphia West Bus Improvement Study will be looking at how to improve road conditions for the bus routes around Brewerytown and Strawberry Mansion. The TIP project acknowledges the equity issues and will be working with the Bus Revolution team for improvements that will facilitate better service. It also includes work around Knights Road and 69th St Station. There will also be ADA-accessible station updates for Bridgeport Station on the Norristown High Speed Line and Bristol Station on the Trenton Regional Rail line.
The area for the North Philadelphia West Bus Improvement Study
🗞 5TH SQUARE IN THE NEWS
DENA DRISCOLL AND WASHINGTON AVE
5th Square co-chair Dena Driscoll was featured on Philly Built, a podcast that covers local zoning issues from phillyzoning.com. (The episode is also on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.) She speaks about how having children affected her view of crossing Washington Ave and the history of city efforts on the street.
"We should be listening to everyone's opinions [...] but I want traffic engineers and planners to be building these roads in the safest way possible. [...] Ultimately, as a community, we have to decide that the most vulnerable members of our community, those who are walking and biking, [that] we should be putting them first."
"Four changes SEPTA can make right now to be more rider-friendly"
5th Square member Alex Davis wrote an op-ed for WHYY outlining some straightforward changes to service and fares that would quickly improve rider experience. Each of his ideas has a great example from other transit systems or planning agencies. He has also done a few YouTube videos discussing SEPTA and Washington Ave as well.
Long Island Railroad
"These problems, and their solutions, are completely internal to SEPTA. If we wanted, we could make nearly every station accessible, modernize our regional rail fares, get buses off I-76 and finally bring SEPTA’s rider communication into the 21st century. We could do it this year, and we wouldn’t need permission or help from anyone."
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🏖 BEACH TRIP!
Our beach trip was moved to July 30th. If you couldn't make it, now's your chance to get in on the fun! We'll be meeting at 30th Street Station at 8:05am to ride the train to Atlantic City and catch some rays. Tickets are $60 for Adults 12+, $30 for children 5-11, kids 4 and under are free.
- Train & Jitney Fare
- Hoagie from White House Subs
- Food & 1 Drink or Appetizer from Landshark Bar & Grill
EVENTS
59th Street Bridge Replacement Project
July 27th, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm (Virtual)
The City of Philadelphia is planning to replace the 59th Street Bridge in West Philadelphia. The bridge plays an important role in connecting the neighborhoods of Wynnefield and Overbrook, crossing over the Amtrak and SEPTA rail lines. However, its condition has deteriorated over time. To ensure the long-term safety of the bridge, the City is working to replace it with one that is structurally sound, visually pleasing, and meets the needs of transportation users. Registration required.
GPLEX 360 Tour of Kensington + West Kensington
July 28th, 4:00pm
Meet at MFL Berks Station (1900 N Front St)
A bus tour of the Kensington neighborhood featuring the area's key business leaders, thinkers, and community members.
Saturday, July 30th from 9:30am - 3pm
More details forthcoming. This will once again start with FPC’s own “Walk and Talk”, followed by a strategy meeting around working groups, and concluded with a direct action training in collaboration with other Land/Housing Justice orgs.
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia 50th Anniversary Gala & Awards
BCGP is celebrating their 50 year anniversary at the Ridgeland Mansion in Fairmount Park. Early Bird tickets available now through August 1. Event is Thursday, September 15.
Spring Garden Street Connector Community Press Conference
Thursday, August 4 at 11:15 am
Spring Garden St between 12th Street and Ridge Avenue
Exciting news on funding and the future of the Spring Garden Street Connector--a 2.2-mile walking and biking corridor between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. Join public and private funders; city, state and federal officials, and community champions to celebrate the vision of the Spring Garden Street Connector as a redesigned complete street.
RSVP by Tuesday, Aug. 2. Email [email protected]
Wednesday, August 10th, 5:00-9:00pm (rain date Weds 8/24)
7100 block of Germantown Avenue
Mt Airy CDC’s signature outdoor event is back for the first time since the pandemic. Come out and rediscover the community and small businesses that make our neighborhood unforgettable!
SURVEYS & EMAIL ACTIONS
- Petition to Save the UC Townhomes - The group Save the Townhomes! is still protesting the sale of the UC Townhomes in West Philadelphia which would render many residents homeless. It's one of the few multifamily units in the area.
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State National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Plan Survey - The NEVI Formula Program provides dedicated funding to Pennsylvania and other states to strategically deploy EV charging infrastructure and establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability.
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Vision Zero | Cecil B. Moore - DVRPC is conducting a survey about possible street safety implementations on Cecil B. Moore Ave from Willington Street to 10th Street.
- Reimagine the Parkway - Survey 1 This public survey is part of the first round of engagement to help refine the vision and goals for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Public Realm Plan and gather the priorities for uses of the Parkway from a diverse audience.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
The New York Times / Why Housing Is So Expensive — Particularly in Blue States
Philadelphia Inquirer / 76ers managing partners are planning to build a new arena in Center City Philadelphia
The New York Times / We Need to Keep Building Houses, Even if No One Wants to Buy
Philadelphia Inquirer / Young adults moved home and then back out during the pandemic, disrupting millions of households
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
Billy Penn / Schuylkill River Trail is getting $2.5 million for an extension past Bartram's Garden to the Passyunk Bridge
Philadelphia Inquirer / From Ikea to Cherry Street Pier, Philly workers are changing what it means to work from ‘home’
Philadelphia Inquirer / $2.5 million grant will help extend Schuylkill River Trail from Bartram’s Garden to South Philly
GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS & CFPs
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Young Involved Philadelphia (YiP) is accepting proposals until August 2nd for their 2022 State of Young Philly event series. The theme this year is: “How can young adults in Philly ensure that services, and all forms of public life are within reach for all Philadelphians?”
- ULI Philadelphia UrbanPlan for Communities Application - UrbanPlan, from the Urban Land Institute Philadelphia, aims to engage local community members in an interactive dialogue about the challenging issues, varying private and public sector roles, complex tradeoffs, and economics that are at play in land use in communities nationwide. This program is open to Citizens Planning Institute (CPI) graduates and/or Registered Community Organizations (RCO) board members/committee chairs and will be hosted on Thursday, August 18, from 8:30am-4:30pm in Philadelphia.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Transit Forward Philadelphia / Coalition Manager
Habitat for Humanity /
PeopleForBikes / OpenStreetMap editor
Philadelphia Inquirer / Interactive Newsroom Designer
City of Philadelphia /
US Dept of Transportation / Supervisory Transportation Specialist
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia / Communications and Social Media Associate
Rebuilding Together Philadelphia / Communications Manager
School District of Philadelphia /
Green Building United / Development Manager
Independence Blue Cross / Lead Provider Experience Measurement & Insights Lead
Comcast / Sr Specialist, Employee Communications
Nationalities Service Center / Various positions
Philadelphia Department of Public Health / Canvass Data Coordinator
Delaware Nature Society / Youth Development Coordinator - DEEC
Women's Community Revitalization Project (WCRP) / Organizing Director
The New Pennsylvania Project / Chief Operating Officer
Robert Schalkenbach Foundation / Assistant Director
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