🚇 BLVD SUBWAY INPUT MEETINGS
This is where the rubber hits the road. If we are serious about making the Roosevelt Boulevard Subway a reality, we need a supporters at these events!
1️⃣ NEXT TUESDAY, November 28 at 5:30 PM
Roosevelt Boulevard Subway Town Hall Meeting
CityReach Philly, 6814 Torresdale Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19135
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2️⃣ Monday, December 4 at 6:00 PM
Route for Change - Roosevelt Blvd Public Open House #1
Mayfair Community Center, 2990 St Vincent St, Philadelphia, PA 19149
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3️⃣ Thursday, December 14 at 6:00 PM
Route for Change - Roosevelt Blvd Public Open House #2
Lenfest Center, 3890 N 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19140
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We will be giving out pins at these meetings -- you have to ATTEND to get one!
We also have a limited quantity of Blvd Subway hoodies! Pick one up for $50 with free shipping.
Or become a 5th Square member today for $5 a month and get a free Blvd Subway T-Shirt!
🏆 URBANIST AWARD NOMINATIONS
At our upcoming holiday party, 5th Square will be presenting awards to a few members of our community for their outstanding contributions to Philadelphia’s urbanist movement.
We will be giving awards for the following categories:
- 🎖️ Urbanist Lifetime Achievement Award
- 🚍 Urbanist Changemaker of the Year
- 🏛️ Public Servant of the Year
- 🚲 Neighborhood RCO Champion
- 🏙️ Best Development of the Year
- 📰 Urbanist Media Champion
- 🏆 5th Square Volunteer of the Year
Know a friend or colleague who deserves one of these awards for their hard work? Nominate them by December 1st!
YOU'RE INVITED! 🎄 HOLIDAY PARTY
Join 5th Square members and friends for our annual Holiday Party + Urbanist Awards Ceremony at Resurrection Philadelphia, 42nd & Pine Streets on Wednesday, December 13th at 7 PM!
Come celebrate with other Philadelphia built environment activists, neighborhood and community leaders, architects, planners, builders, and sustainability advocates at the urbanist holiday party of the season!
Drinks and light fare will be served. Tickets are $30 purchased online ($40 at the door).
🚏 INTERCITY BUS TERMINAL RELOCATION
In case you missed it, we recently released our statement on the temporary relocation of Philadelphia's intercity bus terminal from 6th and Market to Front and Spring Garden. If you're unfamiliar with the situation, The Inquirer's editorial board can bring you up to speed.
Though we believe this new location addresses some of our concerns with the 6th and Market location, we are not satisfied so we are calling on the City and the intercity bus carriers to find a better long-term solution. In our statement, 5th Square Organizer Micah Fiedler says,
“While we understand that a permanent location is being worked on, we will pressure City officials and bus carriers until we have a solution that upholds the dignity of riders. Every day of delay is another day hundreds of riders are forced to wait in the cold.”
If you share our frustration, you can sign our petition calling on Mayor Kenney to address this problem before he leaves office. We're almost at 600 signatures!
💸 SUPPORT SEPTA FUNDING
SEPTA is facing an urgent fiscal cliff which may see drastic service cuts and higher fares. Fortunately, the Pennsylvania House passed HB 1219 which would increase the portion of sales tax that is allocated to public transit funding without increasing the tax itself.
This bill still needs to pass the State Senate, so contact you legislator to ensure SEPTA gets the funding it needs!
EVENTS
SEPTA Santa Express
November 24, Various trains before 11am
CycleScenePHL: Full Moon Ride
November 27, 5:45 PM, Rocky Steps
Roosevelt Boulevard Subway Town Hall Meeting
November 28, 2023 at 5:30pm – 7pm, 6814 Torresdale Ave
Representatives Gallagher, Hohenstein, Solomon, and Councilman Driscoll will be hosting, and this is a great opportunity to solidify the Northeast's support for this critical project. Opposition to the subway is showing up at the meeting, and we need you to help us show up and demonstrate just how strong our movement is.
Roosevelt Blvd Route For Change Open House #1 - Mayfair
December 04, 2023 at 6:00pm – 8pm, 2990 St Vincent St
PennDOT, in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia and SEPTA, is hosting an Open House on Roosevelt Boulevard. PennDOT representatives will be discussing interim improvements and selecting transportation alternatives for Roosevelt Boulevard. Join us to convince PennDOT to move forward with the Blvd Subway.
5th Square Holiday Party + Urbanist Awards Ceremony
December 13, 2023 at 7:00pm – 9pm, 401 S 42nd St
Join 5th Square members and friends for our annual Holiday Party + Urbanist Awards Ceremony at Resurrection Philadelphia. 5th Square will be presenting awards to members of our community for their outstanding contributions to Philadelphia’s urbanist movement.
Bicycle Coalition Holiday Lights Ride 2023
December 13, 7:00PM - 9:00PM
It's time to dust off your bike decorations, bundle up and ride with us on our Annual Holiday Lights Ride! This ride is family-friendly and free to attend but an RSVP is required so we can plan our rollout & ride buddies accordingly!
Design Advocacy Group: Unlocking the Benjamin Franklin Parkway's Potential as a Great Urban Park
Thursday, December 14 · 10 - 11:30am EST, Virtual
Building on the ideas of 2013's More Park, Less Way plan, the current planning process for the Parkway seeks to unlock the Parkway's potential as a great urban park for all by removing excess pavement, connecting fragmented green spaces, and layering on new landscaping and amenities.
Roosevelt Blvd Route For Change Open House #2 - Lenfest Center
December 14, 2023 at 6:00pm – 8pm, 3890 N 10th St
PennDOT, in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia and SEPTA, is hosting an Open House on Roosevelt Boulevard. PennDOT representatives will be discussing interim improvements and selecting transportation alternatives for Roosevelt Boulevard. Join us to convince PennDOT to move forward with the Blvd Subway.
SURVEYS AND ACTION ITEMS
Delaware River Trail Extension Prioritization
After completing a new segment of the Delaware River Trail (DRT) from Fishtown to South Philly, the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) is working on an extension of the trail north. This new segment will stretch between Penn Treaty Park and Lehigh Avenue, including a connection to the future Graffiti Pier Park. DRWC has developed a community-inspired vision for this newest trail segment which can be viewed here. See our recommendations below before providing your input on the vision by completing this very quick survey here.
Bicycle Coalition: Legislation Needed Now to Save Lives of Pedestrians and Bicyclists!
2023 is a terrible year to be a bicyclist in Philadelphia. So far, 10 persons have been killed while riding their bicycle on city streets, the greatest number ever recorded. There are two pieces of legislation in Harrisburg that would allow automated speed enforcement and parking protected bike lanes. Please send a message to your state senator to ask that they prioritize passing two bills in 2023 to protect the lives of vulnerable road users
Center City District Customer Satisfaction Survey
This survey seeks to measure how well the CCD staff is performing and to gauge the public's experience and perceptions of the recovery in Center City. CCD on-street staff consists of daytime sidewalk cleaners, Community Service Representatives, bike safety patrols, and park staff.
DVRPC 2050 VISION SURVEY
The DVRPC is asking for feedback on its vision for Greater Philadelphia in 2050. Tell the DVRPC what they should prioritize over the next 30 years. Let them know if you think Philadelphia should have a new subway line by then. Survey closes December 15th.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
🚌 TRANSIT
🚴 MOBILITY
-
Indego / Indego 2024 Expansion Update
GRANTS & OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
City of Philadelphia
- Infrastructure Workforce Development Manager (OTIS)
- Fiscal Operations Manager (OTIS)
- Staff Attorney
- GIS Analyst (Airport)
WHYY / Transportation Reporter
DVRPC / Planning Data Analyst
5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee.
We're an all-volunteer grassroots organization advocating for safe and affordable transportation, abundant housing, and more and better public spaces. You’re receiving this email if you signed up via our website, attended one of our events, or supported one of our advocacy campaigns.
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